Education
- University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences
- Bachelors' of Science in NeuroscienceMinneapolis, MN, Sep 2011 - Dec 2015
- Graduate coursework in neuroanatomy and brain network analysis
- Representative coursework in Linguistics, Psychology, and Electrical Engineering
- South Sr High School - Honor Roll 2011
Work/Research Experience
- Consultant - Zador Lab, CSHL Cold Spring Harbor, NY, Nov - Dec 2022
- Trained postdoctoral researchers and laboratory technicians on proper setup and use of IBL training rigs
- Laboratory Associate - Angelaki Lab, NYU New York, NY, Feb 2020 - Nov 2022
- Handling, headbar implantation, behavioral training, craniotomy, neuropixel insertion, electrophysiological data acquisition, and perfusion of mice
- Handling and training of 12-18 mice/day according to International Brain Lab protocol
- Performed craniotomies on >250 mice, 5-15 craniotomies per mouse
- >600 Neuropixel insertions performed for the International Brain Lab
- >500 Neuropixel insertions performed in a VR experiment for Jean-Paul Noel
- Post-hoc tracing of dye tracks in brain slices left behind by dyed Neuropixels
- CAD of brackets used to headfix mice to allow acute Neuropixel insertion during exploration of virtual reality
- Software Engineer - Benson Medical Instruments, Inc. Minneapolis, MN, Aug 2009 - Jan 2020
- Assisted in development of web app for audiometric/spirometric database management
- Assisted in development of desktop application for audiometric/spirometric database management
- Assisted in development of custom in-house testing infrastructure
- Converted custom in-house testing infrastructure to MSTest for increased Azure DevOps compatibility
- Acted as assistant sysadmin for on-site server infrastructure
- Developed custom database migration software for online audiometric/spirometric database
- Student IT - MAST Lab, NEES@Minnesota Minneapolis, MN, Jan - May 2014
- Assisted in development of Java software for stress-testing data visualization
- Managed photographic data acquisition during stress-testing
- Fixed and maintained computer equipment around the lab
- Research Assistant - Marsolek Cognitive Neuroscience Lab Minneapolis, MN, Jan - Apr 2012
- Administered questionnaires and ran test procedure for visual reflex priming experiment
Publications
- See my ORCiD profile: Julius Benson (0000-0001-7877-5939)
Technical Skills
- Procedures
- Rat model stereotactic surgery, mouse headbar implantation, mouse craniotomy, >1100 neuropixel insertions, gel electrophoresis, PCR
- Languages
- C, C++, C#, Javascript, HTML, SQL, VBA, Batch, Bash, Scheme, Haskell, Arduino (Processing), Python
- Operating Systems
- Windows, Debian, Ubuntu, Xubuntu, Lubuntu, Arch Linux
- Software
- Visual Studio, Git, Emacs, Subversion, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Fusion 360, Inkscape, Microsoft Office (Excel, Access, etc), MATLAB
Projects
- Quad-rotor helicopter - Engineering Design and Development class South Sr High School
- Wrote remote flight-control software for WiFi Arduino using gyroscope and accelerometer sensors to control flight servos
- Designed 3D-printed mounting brackets for flight servos
- Personal Website
- Hosted on GitHub