Re: Light Microscopy Specialist Position - Wash U Center for Cellular Imaging (St. Louis, MO)

[Fitzpatrick, James]

*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting.
*****

Dear List,

Please feel free to forward to any interested parties. I am currently recruiting for a Research Specialist focused on Light Microscopy in the Center for Cellular Imaging at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO.

The Research Specialist will support critically complex research and experimentation allowing the advancement of scientific analysis and discovery. Will serve as a subject matter expert offering support, training and guidance in multiple light / fluorescence microscope techniques. May participate and or present on the research developed. For more information please go to: http://wucci.wustl.edu

Position entails following responsibilities:

1.  User Training (50%) - Educating facility users in the use of Center instrumentation / methods used therein.
• Provide advanced level instruction and work direction to Institute laboratory staff on Center instrumentation and procedures used in the various light microscopy methods supported by the Center.
• Train facility users in the appropriate use of data analysis packages and methods, micrograph production, and quantification of data.
• Train laboratory staff on different experimental techniques used in the Center.
• Develop reference tools for lab staff including handouts.
• Provide advanced level instruction on an individual level with undergraduate students, graduate students, post-docs, and collaborators on Center equipment and procedures for state of the art fluorescence microscopy, confocal microscopy (both fixed and live cell), two-photon microscopy, TIRF microscopy, super-resolution microscopy (both STORM and SIM) and automated slide scanning (both bright-field and fluorescence).

2.  Research Design and Participation (25%) - Aiding Director and independently assisting users in design of experiments.
• Design, and carry out experiments involving collection and processing of tissues and tissue culture cells and their analysis by immunofluorescence, live-cell imaging, two-photon microscopy, TIRF microscopy, super-resolution microscopy (both STORM and SIM) and automated slide scanning (both bright-field and fluorescence).
• Provide innovative contributions to the design and construction of experiments for multiple research projects to obtain high quality imaging data.
• Participate in the collection and analysis of images and application of protocols for quantification of data.
• Keep informed of new developments and technical advances in light microscopy in the fields of molecular and cell biology by reading primary literature and microscopy and manufacturer websites.

3.  Imaging Processing and Data Analysis (15%) - Specialist will also undertake image processing training and collaborative data analysis.
• Provide assistance and training to core users in the quantitative analysis of light microscopy datasets.
• Train users in commercial image analysis software platforms (Bitplane Imaris and FEI Amira).
• Ensure users are aware of and compliant with appropriate data analysis methods and ethics.
• Responsible for assisting users with image analysis, e.g. image averaging, filtering, alignment, quantitative analysis, and reconstruction of 3D datasets.
• Provide reconstructed 3D datasets for scientific projects, e.g. tomographic reconstructions, tracing of image objects, building 3D models from both light and electron microscopy datasets.

4.  Center Maintenance and Management (5%) - Maintaining the functionality of facility instrumentation.
• Keep database of scientific Center records.
• Perform general maintenance of facilities light microscopes.
• Liaise with manufacturers with regard to instrument preventative maintenance.
• Ensure assigned areas, and various pieces of equipment are clean and prepared.
• Maintain stocks of reagents for methods involving tissue culture, antibody reagents, buffers, etc.
• Keep a log sheet for controlled substances, check usage of controlled substances regularly and order supplies as needed.
• Use scheduling software to keep monthly invoices for facility user recharges.
• Use scheduling software to keep track of equipment usage to prepare monthly status reports for Director.
• Maintain records of equipment usage and report maintenance issues of equipment.
• Ensure Center is in compliance with EH&S prpotocols and procedures.

5.  Data Collection and Presentation (5%) - Collecting and managing data and helping to prepare data for publication and presentation.
• Prepare data for publication; grant applications, posters and other presentations using digital facilities.
• Present data at department or Institute meetings.
• Prepare images/movies for presentations.
• Assist in preparation of manuscripts, grants, progress reports and annual protocols.
• Prepare publication quality micographs.
• Maintain electronic lab notebook, including experimental design, time, methods, materials and results.

Applications can be submitted at https://jobs.wustl.edu using job ID: 32817 - Research Specialist - Center for Cellular Imaging

Many thanks,
James

James A.J. Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.
Scientific Director, Washington University Center for Cellular Imaging
Associate Professor, Departments of Neuroscience and Cell Biology & Physiology
Washington University School of Medicine
Campus Box 8108
660 S. Euclid Ave
St. Louis, MO  63110

tel: [phone]
fax:  [phone]
email: [hidden email]<mailto:[hidden email]>
web: http://wucci.wustl.edu

Shipping address:
Washington University Center for Cellular Imaging
Washington University School of Medicine
4523 Clayton Ave
St. Louis, MO  63110