"Research Associate - Advanced Core for Microscope Engineering"

The newly established Advanced Core for Microscope Engineering (ACME) at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine will provide custom built ad hoc optical microscopy solutions, advanced image analysis, and consultation services to researchers across the Penn campus and beyond. The core will take advantage of modular hardware and software technology being developed in the Mir Lab (mir-lab.com) which will allow for rapid prototyping and construction of instruments. This is inherently a new type of core model which combines engineering new technologies in response to desired experimental designs instead of working within the bounds of commercially available technology. The core is co-directed by Dr. Mustafa Mir (mir-lab.com), Dr. Melike Lakadamyali (lakadamyali-lab.com/), Dr. Yihui Shen (https://www.imaging-systems-metabolism-lab.com/), and Dr. Andrea Stout (https://www.med.upenn.edu/cdbmicroscopycore/).

The Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania seeks candidates for a Research Associate position. Expertise is required in physics, computer science, engineering or related field with at least 5 years of relevant experience. PhD is required.

Responsibilities include:

• Designing and implementing optics hardware (ideally microscopes)
• Leveraging Python and/or LabView, and use of digital and analog signal processing
• Developing and implementing new microscope hardware, control software, customized analysis pipelines
• Collaborating with core users
• Working with core collaborators to understand experimental needs and iterate on designs prior to implementation
• Implementing and testing hardware and training others to use it
• Developing ideas for new hardware and analysis approaches for microscopy
• Developing content for grant proposals and manuscripts

Qualifications: PhD and 3-5 years previous experience in designing and implementing optics/microscopy experiments. Highly motivated individual, must have strong organizational skills, good oral and written communication skills, and be able to work independently and be a team player. Ability to coordinate multiple projects independently.