We are looking for a cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) instrumentation specialist to join the Structural and Computational Biology (SCB) Unit at EMBL Heidelberg. EMBL Heidelberg hosts world-class cryo-electron microscopy facilities for internal and external users. You will implement, develop and maintain microscope hardware and software enabling researchers to effectively use EMBL Heidelberg’s cryo-electron microscopy facilities that include four Titan Krios, one Talos Arctica, one Glacios, and two Aquilos microscopes. Furthermore, you will closely collaborate and interact with a larger team comprising microscopy application specialists, method developers and image analysts having the mission of highest-level research and technology development in cryo-EM, cryo-ET and cryo-CLEM.
Your role
You will be responsible for:
- Maintenance and development of cryo-electron microscope hardware and software infrastructure at an advanced level.
- Staying up to date with the latest developments in cryo-EM methodologies and implementing workflows tailored for cutting-edge cryo-EM applications in the life sciences.
- Training researchers to effectively use cryo-EM/ET technologies and auxiliary equipment; the opportunity to learn in situ cryo-ET and cryo-FIB-SEM aspects will be provided.
- Helping with the organisation and teaching of electron microscopy courses for the user community.
- You will also be able to pursue technical or application development interests benefitting EMBL’s research mission and the wider cryo-EM community.
You have
- Higher degree (PhD, Master, Bachelor) or equivalent experience in the life sciences, physics, engineering or related disciplines.
- Extensive experience in operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting cryogenic transmission electron microscopes for the life sciences.
- Experience in interacting with service engineers and helping to maintain and develop the local infrastructure.
- Strong motivation and ability to support, train, and interact effectively with team members and users.
- Excellent communication and organisation skills.
- Fluency in English.
You might also have
- Experience in cryo-EM sample preparation and image processing.
- Experience in in situ cryo-ET and considerations for data acquisition and processing.
- Experience with cryo-FIB milling devices for preparation of cellular lamellae.
- Experience in correlative light and electron microscopy (cryo-CLEM) workflows.
Why join us
EMBL is curiosity-driven, community-oriented and international. As an inclusive, equal opportunity employer, we believe that diversity enables us to collaborate more effectively and be innovative in our approaches. We are, therefore, committed to creating an inclusive and flexible culture - one where everyone can realise their full potential and make a positive contribution to our organisation.
We encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing team – we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and personal experiences reflect the diversity of the populations that our science serves. We actively encourage applications from all genders and cultures, ethnic groups and all demographics to help us avoid perpetuating biases and oversights at this transformational point in our people strategy.
EMBL offers attractive conditions and benefits appropriate to an international research organisation with a very collegial and family-friendly working environment. Competitive salary and social security benefits, financial support for relocation, a relaxed culture, professional development, an on-site nursery, canteen and other staff facilities make EMBL a great place to work.
What else you need to know
We are Europe’s flagship research laboratory for the life sciences – an intergovernmental organisation performing scientific research in disciplines including molecular biology, physics, chemistry and computer science. We are an international, innovative and interdisciplinary laboratory with more than 1900 employees from many nations, operating across six sites, in Heidelberg (HQ), Barcelona, Hinxton near Cambridge, Hamburg, Grenoble and Rome.
Our mission is to offer vital services in training scientists, students and visitors at all levels; to develop new instruments and methods in the life sciences and actively engage in technology transfer activities, and to integrate European life science research. The working language of the institute is English.
In your online application, you will be asked to include a cover letter, CV and the contact details of 3 referees. Further information about the position can be obtained from Simone Mattei (simone.mattei@embl.de) or Christoph Müller (christoph.mueller@embl.de).
The initial contract is for a period of three years with the possibility of a fixed-term extension.
EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we implement best practices in research assessment in our recruitment processes here.
