Senior reserach engineer in correlative microscopy techniques

Umeå University, Faculty Office of Medicine

Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with over 37,000 students and about 4,700 employees. The University offers a diversity of high-quality education and world-leading research in several fields. Notably, the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was made here. At Umeå University, everything is close. Our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, work together and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture.

The ongoing societal transformation and large green investments in northern Sweden create enormous opportunities and complex challenges. For Umeå University, conducting research about – and in the middle of – a society in transition is key. We also take pride in delivering education to enable regions to expand quickly and sustainably. In fact, the future is made here.

Are you interested in learning more? Read about Umeå university as a workplace

The Faculty of Medicine, which consists of 12 departments, is responsible for biomedical research and courses in the field of nursing and health care and has an extensive research and graduate education in more than 80 subjects.

Description of the project

National Microscopy Infrastructure (NMI) (http://nmisweden.se/) is an initiative, funded by VR and four Swedish universities, to support availability and usage of advanced microscopes in Sweden, mainly for life sciences. The infrastructure node in Umeå focus on correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) and include both university centralized facilities: Umeå Core Facility for Electron Microscopy (UCEM; http://www.kbc.umu.se/english/ucem), and Biochemical Imaging Centre Umeå (BICU; http://www.kbc.umu.se/english/bicu/). Microscopes and sample preparation equipment at the facilities are among the best in Sweden, including Super Resolution Fluorescence, Cryo-EM, Spinning disc, Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscope (FIB-SEM) among other CLEM tools and software. Importantly, the excellent personnel at the facility enable use of the advanced instruments through their vast experience and expertise.

Work tasks

The NMI node in Umeå is currently seeking a first research engineer to be recruited for a technical support function responsible for CLEM methods, to guide and educate researchers and facility users and with the responsibility for the maintenance and operations of instruments. The position also involve responsibility to drive methodological development at the fore-front of correlative microscopy. Thus, participation in relevant conferences and workshops in microscopy is essential.
This position implies that you will provide researchers with expert advice in planning and implementing CLEM experiments, sample preparation, mainly in medical and biological research. The work include responsibility for microscope maintenance and method development, independent planning and operation of analyzes by TEM instruments, evaluation of the data obtained from such analyzes, as well as compiling reports. You will support and monitor the daily operation of the instruments and serve as a link between users, facility and instrument suppliers' service. You will to take responsibility for the technical development, user training and service in the facility, which could also include updating homepages, teaching and administration.

Qualifications

You have a PhD in engineering, science or medicine. You have extensive interest, theoretical knowledge and practical experience in fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy, and preferably correlative use of these techniques. The tasks require experience in electron microscopy methods, e.g. sample preparation for transmission electron microscopy analysis and 3D imaging processing and live cell fluorescence microscopy. Very good computer skills, experience of softwares for 3D reconstruction, tomography is particularly meritorious. You are well organized, educational and have good interpersonal skills and enjoy working in a team. Ability to communicate well in written and spoken English is required. You are enterprising and able to independently take responsibility for experimental work as well as presentation of results.

Meritorious qualifications

We are looking for a co-worker who is goal-oriented, systematic and educational. Great emphasis is placed on technical competence and experience of CLEM projects in cell biology as well as different molecular biological methods. Experience of other microscopy techniques is a favorable, in particular the FIB-SEM, Cryo-EM, AFM or super resolution microscopy.

Conditions

The position is a full time substitute position during 2 years, starting January 1st 2024, or as agreed.

Your application must include:

A personal cover letter explaining why you are interested in the position, how you can contribute to the project and in which direction you may want to develop it (no more than one A4 page).
A curriculum vitae that documents academic education and past and previous employments.
A copy of the PhD certificate and other relevant degree certificates.
Other relevant documentation you wish to include in support of your application.

The application must be made via our e-recruitment system Varbi no later than October 29th 2023.
Please contact Richard Lundmark (richard.lundmark@umu.se) for additional information.

We welcome your application!