Senior Research Investigator

About the role

The Senior Research Investigator will design, develop, implement, and maintain computational analysis tools for advanced fluorescence microscopy and super-resolution microscopy data. The position will be jointly based between the Lakadamyali Lab and the ACME core at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, with an approximately 50/50 effort split between both groups.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, validate, and maintain user-friendly software tools for the analysis of advanced fluorescence microscopy and super-resolution microscopy data for use by the Lakadamyali Lab, ACME core users, and collaborators.
• Develop analysis workflows for single-molecule localization microscopy, single-particle tracking, co-localization, spatial statistics, morpholomics analysis, and clustering.
• Perform quantitative analysis and interpretation of complex microscopy datasets generated from biological samples, including cells and tissues.
• Support, mentor, and train ACME core users by providing guidance on image analysis strategies, quantitative workflows, data interpretation, reproducible microscopy analysis practices, and tutorial development.
• Interface with wet-lab collaborators to translate biological needs into appropriate quantitative image analysis strategies.
• Write, test, optimize, and maintain code using appropriate programming and image analysis environments, including but not limited to MATLAB, Python, Fiji/ImageJ, and related scientific computing tools.
• Generate figures, graphs, quantitative summaries, method descriptions, and data visualizations for manuscripts, grant proposals, presentations, and core facility reports.
• Present research findings and technical developments at lab meetings, core facility meetings, seminars, conferences, and collaborative meetings.

Qualifications

• A Ph.D in computational biology, quantitative biology, biophysics, engineering, computer science, biomedical engineering, physics or a related field is required, as well as 5-7+ years of postdoctoral or equivalent research experience in microscopy, image analysis, computational biology, or scientific software development.
• Strong programming skills are required, as well as experience with MATLAB, Python, Fiji/ImageJ, or related image analysis and scientific computing environments.
• Experience with super-resolution microscopy, single-molecule localization microscopy, single-particle tracking, fluorescence microscopy, or related advanced imaging modalities is highly desirable.
• Experience with microscope acquisition and hardware-control software and instrumentation automation is preferred but not required.
• The candidate must be highly motivated, organized, and able to work both independently and collaboratively, and possess strong oral and written communication skills.
• The successful candidate should have demonstrated expertise through published papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Benefits

This position is contingent upon grant funding. The University of Pennsylvania offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.