Microscopy Officer

About This Opportunity

As Microscopy Officer, you will be at the heart of discovery, partnering with the Microscopy Platform Manager to deliver world-class optical, fluorescence and confocal microscopy services at IMB. Working alongside passionate researchers and state-of-the-art infrastructure, you will help turn complex biological questions into clear, high-impact insights. Your contribution will directly enable exceptional research outcomes across the Institute, University and external partners, while fostering a vibrant culture of shared learning, operational excellence and scientific curiosity aligned to UQ’s purpose of creating change together.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Coordinating and delivering individual and group training in microscope operation, image acquisition, visualisation software and image analysis for biological research.
• Maintaining, cleaning and calibrating microscopy instrumentation to factory specifications, and supporting the day-to-day operation of the imaging platform.
• Providing responsive, helpdesk style troubleshooting for minor equipment and software issues, and escalating complex matters as required.
• Managing platform assets and records, including stocktakes, consumables ordering, user training logs, work records and associated charges.
• Contributing to the continuous improvement of facility procedures, documentation, and user support resources.
• Supporting the safe and effective operation of the imaging platform in accordance with institutional policies and laboratory standards.

About You

You will bring a strong technical foundation, a service-oriented mindset and a genuine enthusiasm for supporting others to do their best science. You will also demonstrate:

• A degree in a biological or biomedical discipline, or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and education or training.
• Demonstrated experience operating and maintaining optical microscopes, including fluorescence and confocal systems, in a research setting.
• Practical laboratory experience relevant to microscopy, such as histology techniques including fixation, embedding, sectioning and staining or immunofluorescence sample preparation and labelling.
• Proven expertise in applying advanced biomedical or life science microscopy techniques to analyse structure, morphology and function.
• Well-developed organisational, interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively, and to prepare professional documentation on complex matters.
• Experience delivering training or teaching users in microscope and equipment operation, or the capability and confidence to develop these skills.
• Desirable experience with widefield and confocal microscope systems as well as image processing and quantification methods for multi-dimensional datasets.
• Familiarity with Windows-based administrative systems, scientific image analysis software, scripting, or programming languages relevant to image acquisition and analysis (e.g., Python, ImageJ/Fiji macros, MATLAB).