Lecturer of Cell Biology and Director of the Core for Imaging Technology & Education (CITE)

School:

Harvard Medical School

Department/Area:

***

Position Description

The Department of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School (HMS) seeks an accomplished and collaborative scientist to serve as Lecturer of Cell Biology and Director of the Core for Imaging Technology & Education (CITE). The successful candidate will lead a state-of-the-art light microscopy core facility that provides advanced imaging expertise, training, and strategic scientific support to the HMS research community.

Key Responsibilities

Scientific Leadership, Training, and Research Support

• Provide expert consultation and training to faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students on experimental design, sample preparation, acquisition strategies, quantitative imaging, data validation, and image analysis
• Advise on imaging approaches across a wide range of biological and biomedical applications and specimen types, from single molecules to whole organisms
• Stay current with advances in imaging and image analysis, and apply this knowledge to consultations and training offered by the core
• Offer ongoing support to trained core users, including guidance as experiments evolve, troubleshooting, and interpretation of imaging data
• Work to enhance rigor, reproducibility, and best practices in imaging experiments performed in the core
• Support grant applications by advising on experimental design and providing expert letters of support

Classroom & Online Education

• Design and deliver workshops on light microscopy theory, modern and emerging quantitative imaging techniques, and image analysis best practice for trainees and research scientists
• Develop and contribute lectures and laboratory modules to HMS graduate programs
• Create educational resources that promote technical rigor and experimental best practices in imaging experiments
• Stay current with advances in imaging and image analysis, and translate relevant new methods into educational offerings for the local research community

Director of CITE

• Direct operation and strategic development of a 16-instrument light microscopy facility, including widefield fluorescence, spinning disk confocal, laser scanning confocal, total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF), light sheet (diSPIM & lattice) and 3D structured illumination microscopy (SIM) systems
• Evaluate and implement new technologies and instruments in the core, to maintain cutting-edge capabilities
• Oversee maintenance and optimization of both commercial and custom-built imaging platforms
• Serve as primary liaison with external microscope vendors to oversee system installation, performance optimization, maintenance, and technical issue resolution

Personnel & Mentorship

• Recruit, supervise, and mentor core facility staff

Administration & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with institutional and environmental health and safety regulations
• Manage facility operations, budgeting, financial planning, and reporting
• Oversee scheduling, billing, and user access systems

Strategic Development

• Lead preparation of shared instrumentation and equipment grant proposals
• Contribute to long-term planning for core growth and scientific impact

Salary and Benefits

This position is salaried and benefits eligible.
Annual Salary Range: $125,000 - $175,000
With this appointment, you are represented by the Harvard Academic Workers (HAW) - UAW for purposes of collective bargaining and matters affecting your compensation and working conditions.

Basic Qualifications

• PhD in biology, physics, or a related discipline
• Minimum 10 years of experience performing light microscopy experiments
• Minimum 10 years of experience in advanced microscopy systems including widefield fluorescence, spinning disk confocal, laser scanning confocal, TIRF, structured illumination microscopy, and light sheet microscopy
• Minimum 5 years of experience working with custom-built systems imaging systems.
• Minimum 10 years of experience with commercial and open-source image acquisition and analysis software
• Core facility or shared instrumentation environments
• Demonstrated experience with quantitative microscopy applications including live specimen imaging, ratiometric imaging, spectral imaging, FRET, FRAP and single molecule tracking
• Expertise in NIS-Elements for acquisition and analysis, MicroManager for microscope control, FIJI for image processing, and Python for scripting and automation
• Demonstrated experience teaching light microscopy and/or image analysis to PhD-level research scientists in a formal classroom setting
• Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills
• Experience organizing microscopy and image analysis workshops and courses.

Special Instructions

Required documents:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• Note with names and contact information for three people who have agreed to serve as your reference

Please submit application documents through the ARIeS portal. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Selected candidates will be invited for interviews.

Expected Dates

• Start date: The position is expected to start on or around June 1, 2026 with some flexibility.
• Duration: This is a one-year term position from the date of hire, with the possibility of extension, contingent upon work performance, business need, and continued funding to support the position.

Contact Information

CITE Search Committee
HMS - Dept. of Cell Biology
240 Longwood Ave.
Boston, MA 02115

Contact Email: cbsearch@hms.harvard.edu

Salary Range

$125,000 - $175,000 Annually

Minimum Number of References Required:

3

Maximum Number of References Allowed:

3

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