About the ELMI

ELMI was created in 2001 to establish a unique communication network between European scientists working in the field of light microscopy and the manufacturers of their equipment.

Application Specialist in Advanced Light Microscopy Technologies – EMBL Imaging Centre, EMBL Heidelberg, Germany

Location:Heidelberg, Germany
Staff Category:Staff Member
Contract Duration:3 years
Grading:6, depending on experience and qualification
Closing Date:29 October 2019
Reference Number:HD01571

We are seeking for a highly motivated and interdisciplinary scientist to join the EMBL Imaging Centre (EMBL IC) team. Due to rapid developments in new imaging technologies, the pace of biological and medical discoveries has increased at an unprecedented speed in the 21st century. For the first time, high-resolution electron and light microscopy technologies enable us to directly visualise the molecular machinery of life under native conditions. Consequently, cutting-edge microscopy is becoming a central technological platform for the life sciences. Currently, few scientists have access to the latest imaging technologies, as the instruments are complex in their development, set-up, maintenance and usage. EMBL is currently constructing the EMBL Imaging Centre to make the latest imaging technologies available as quickly as possible to a broad, international user community of researchers from academia to industry. A broad spectrum of imaging technologies covering the scales from structure determination of single protein complexes to imaging whole organisms will be offered, with a special emphasis on cross modality capabilities (correlative microscopy) and bespoke user project support from sample preparation to image analysis provided by dedicated expert service staff. The successful applicant will be part of the EMBL IC Advanced Light Microscopy Team comprising microscopy engineers, application specialists and image analysists, who work in close collaboration with the Electron Microscopy Team. Both teams have the mission of highest-level user service provision and technology development to continuously improve the services. Advanced and mostly pre-commercial light microscopy technologies will cover all scales from the latest (cryo-) super-resolution technologies to intravital and deep tissue imaging.

Your role

The successful candidate will support users of the EMBL IC in all aspects of advanced light microscopy as well as correlative microscopy experiments including sample preparation, introduction to the imaging technology, assistance and trouble-shooting during imaging and data collection, data management as well as data analysis. S/he will participate in the set-up, testing, running of advanced light microscopy equipment, and development of novel image acquisition schemes and workflows tailored to the EMBL IC in close collaboration with academic microscope developers, optical engineers and industrial partners of the facility. S/he will participate in the organisation and teaching of courses on light microscopy techniques for the EMBL IC user community. The successful candidate should be able to work creatively and independently, be well organised, rigorous, and enjoy working in an international team within a highly collaborative atmosphere. Before opening of the EMBL IC the successful candidate will work on selected pilot projects and microscopy technologies integrated in EMBL’s existing research groups and facility service teams.

For additional information please check the job offer.