Lead Technical Advisor

The Center for Advanced Research Technologies (CART) connects investigators with state-of-the-art instrumentation, specialized scientific expertise, and data analysis support that would be difficult for individual laboratories to maintain independently. Serving investigators across the University of Rochester and collaborators worldwide, CART provides access to advanced genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, imaging, flow cytometry, bioinformatics, and other cutting-edge technologies.

About the Role

CART is in search of a Lead Research Technical Advisor to provide scientific, technical, and operational leadership for the Structural Biology Imaging Resource (SBIR). The Lead Research Technical Advisor oversees the installation, optimization, operation, and long-term development of advanced cryo-electron microscopy instrumentation supporting structural biology and translational research programs. Serves as the institutional subject matter expert in cryo-EM technologies to advance high-quality, reproducible research and expand cryo-EM capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operation, optimization, maintenance coordination, and performance monitoring of cryo-EM instrumentation, including the Thermo Fisher Glacios cryo-TEM platform and associated instrumentation.
• Develop, validate, implement, and continuously optimize cryo-EM workflows, SOPs, quality control procedures, and data acquisition methodologies for single particle analysis, cryo-ET, and related applications.
• Provide scientific consultation and technical support to investigators regarding experimental design, sample preparation, imaging strategies, data quality assessment, troubleshooting, and interpretation of cryo-EM experiments.
• Design and deliver user training programs for instrument operation, sample preparation, safety procedures, and best practices; supervise and mentor facility staff and trainees as applicable.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree and 8 years of relevant experience operating and supporting advanced cryo-electron microscopy instrumentation required.
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Skills

• Demonstrated experience managing complex scientific instrumentation or shared research facilities.
• Experience with cryo-EM software platforms including EPU, SerialEM, RELION, cryoSPARC, or related analysis environments.
• Experience with cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), micro-ED, cryo-FIB/SEM, or correlative imaging workflows.
• Experience independently setting up and collecting data on 200 kV or 300 kV microscopes (e.g., Glacios, Artica, Titan, Krios, JEOL CRYO-ARM).