Microfab Intern / Co op - Microfabrication and Electrochemistry

Summary

Axoft is building the most advanced and scalable platform for implantable brain–machine interfaces. Our mission is to enable minimally invasive, long-term stable, and ultrahigh-bandwidth communication with the brain—unlocking new therapies and treatments for neurological disorders and physical disabilities. We have bridged the gap between electronic and biological materials to create the softest, nanofabricated brain implants in the world. We are now expanding our interdisciplinary team with individuals who are passionate, results-driven, and committed to solving complex problems with creativity and scientific rigor.

About the Role

As an R&D Intern on the Microfabrication team, you will contribute to the development of Axoft’s next-generation ultrasoft stimulation electrodes , working from early materials exploration through full device fabrication. Achieving this requires hands-on work in nanofabrication facilities, where you will process wafers through key steps such as lithography, thin film deposition, dry and wet etching, metrology, packaging, and final quality control.

You will help develop, integrate, and characterize new electrode materials, ensuring they are compatible with Axoft’s cleanroom workflows and meet performance requirements for implantation. You will also support electrochemical testing—including CV, EIS, pulsing, and stability measurements—to evaluate material behavior and device performance.

This role is ideal for candidates with hands-on experience in materials science, microfabrication, and electrochemistry, offering deep exposure to thin-film processing, cleanroom fabrication, and electrochemical evaluation of neural interface technologies. We are seeking a highly motivated R&D Intern to support in vivo experiments, surgical workflows, and neural data collection. This role is ideal for candidates interested in neuroscience, animal research, and translational neurotechnology, with opportunities to gain hands-on experience in large animal studies, electrophysiology, and experimental operations.

• Location: Cambridge, MA (On-site)

• Duration: 6 months (longer duration preferred)

• Team: Microfabrication

About you

• You enjoy tackling large, ambiguous technical challenges and defining problems as much as solving them.

• You care about execution and delivering robust, manufacturable solutions.

• You thrive in cross-disciplinary environments and communicate effectively with software, mechanical, electrical, materials, and biological engineers, as well as neuroscientists.

• You are resourceful, adaptable, and comfortable taking on tasks of any scale.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize novel electrode materials , including structural and electrochemical characterization.

• Integrate new materials into cleanroom fabrication processes , executing lithography, deposition, etching, liftoff, and other fabrication steps.

• Perform electrochemical testing , including CV, EIS, pulsing, and stability, maintain characterization setups, and analyze performance data.

• Support cross-functional collaboration with materials, microfabrication, hardware, and data teams.

• Maintain strong lab operations through sample tracking, experiment preparation, and thorough documentation of processes and results

Required Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. program in Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, or a related field

• Strong foundation in microfabrication (cleanroom processes, thin films, photolithography, etching, deposition…)

• Solid knowledge of electrochemistry (electrode behavior, redox processes, impedance, CV/EIS interpretation)

• Strong experimental rigor, attention to detail, and organized workflow

• Ability to work safely and independently in a cleanroom environment

• Curiosity, autonomy, and strong experimental rigor

• Eagerness to learn and contribute to fast‑paced R&D projects

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with electrode materials, coatings, or composites

• Experience with soft materials handling and patterning

• Familiarity with materials characterization tools (SEM, profilometry, AFM, XPS)

• Experience with electrochemical stability testing or neural‑interface materials

What You’ll Gain

• Hands‑on experience at the intersection of materials science, microfabrication, and bioelectronics

• Exposure to full device development workflows, from materials development to electrochemical validation

• Mentorship and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team

• Opportunity to contribute to a high‑impact project with real technological applications

• Experience working in a dynamic, interdisciplinary R&D environment