Assistant Director, Sauer Lab, Center for Biomedical Research Support

University of Texas at Austin•Austin, TX

10d

About The Position

The Sauer Structural Biology Laboratory (SSBL), part of the Center for Biomedical Research Support at The University of Texas at Austin, is a state-of-the-art electron microscopy facility with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and cryo-EM capabilities. Its instruments include a FEI Titan Krios with a Biocontinuum GIF and K3 direct detector, a Thermo-Fisher Glacios with a Falcon IVi detector, a JEOL 1400 Flash with a ClearView camera and Oxford Instruments Xplore detector, and an Aquilos 2+ planned for deployment. The Assistant Director joins a collaborative, service-oriented research community and combines scientific expertise, researcher support, and facility leadership. The role helps investigators with varied research goals and experience use cryo-electron microscopy, supports cutting-edge structural biology research, and contributes to the ongoing development and sustainability of the facility.

Requirements

Master’s degree in life or physical sciences, or a field related to the work to be performed; relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
At least 4 years of experience operating or maintaining high-end transmission electron microscopes.
At least 3 years of experience using cryo-TEM to image biological samples.
Demonstrated experience managing staff, providing direction, and supporting professional development.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for teamwork and collaboration with a multidisciplinary user base.
Strong commitment to building and maintaining a positive work environment.
Ability to work independently or as a team member.
Strong critical-thinking and troubleshooting skills.
Ability to complete tasks thoroughly and accurately and ensure high-quality outcomes.
Experience using SerialEM.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a multi-user core facility, including training, troubleshooting, and assisting researchers across biological projects.
Deep knowledge of SPA cryo-EM workflows and equipment; knowledge of cryo-ET and microED data collection and processing is a plus.
Computational expertise relevant to cryo-EM research, including Linux environments, scientific scripting, workflow automation, GPU-based processing, or high-performance computing.
Experience developing, troubleshooting, or improving cryo-EM data-processing workflows, including understanding related computing, storage, and data-transfer requirements.
Ability to connect microscopy operations with computational resources and research workflows while working with researchers, technical staff, and institutional computing partners.
Thorough understanding of cryo-EM theory and practical technical considerations for data collection and analysis.
Track record of contributing to scientific endeavors or publications in electron microscopy.
Experience using and operating FEI/ThermoFisher Scientific and JEOL electron microscopes.

Responsibilities

Continuously monitor the performance of microscope and camera systems.
Maintain and coordinate service for Cryo-EM, TEM, SEM, and ancillary equipment to keep facility instruments in working condition for high-resolution structural studies.
Monitor microscope facilities and ancillary systems, and coordinate service and maintenance as needed.
Assist in planning and maintaining the computing environment for data collection and image processing, coordinating with CBRS research computing staff and institutional partners.
Consult with client labs to assist with experiment planning and execution.
Evaluate, supervise, and mentor staff, supporting their professional growth.
Serve as a technical resource for colleagues, CBRS administration, and the academic community, advising on workflows and equipment choices.
Lead community outreach and engagement, including workshops, user meetings, training programs, and scientific events.
Lead development and review of service rates and cost-recovery models, aligning them with institutional policies, operational sustainability, and user needs.
Participate in budget development, financial planning, rate reviews, and cost-recovery analyses to support the long-term sustainability and growth of facility operations.