E11 Bio - Scientist I/II, Expansion Microscopy

Convergent Research•Alameda, CA

4d•$100,000 - $170,000

About The Position

E11 Bio is seeking a mission-aligned scientist or engineer to develop and improve expansion microscopy for a scalable brain-mapping platform. The role combines sample preparation, advanced microscopy, quantitative image analysis, and engineering-driven technology development, with rapid troubleshooting and efforts to standardize and automate protocols. The position works closely with molecular biology, imaging, experimental, and computational teams to produce high-quality specimens for whole-brain connectomics. The role is a critical part of the sample production pipeline and is responsible for expansion microscopy development and iterative protocol improvement. Its principal goals are to improve gel performance and the quality, reproducibility, and scalability of sample production. The work includes hands-on experiments and defining quantitative measures of mechanical and optical gel properties, image quality, and pipeline throughput. Within six months, the successful candidate is expected to be onboarded into the production pipeline, consistently generate high-quality gels, establish and integrate expansion microscopy quality-control metrics and stage-gate thresholds, and increase production gel yield by 50% without reducing quality. Within 12 months, the candidate is expected to improve pipeline quality, reproducibility, and scalability; reduce technical variability between and within parallel-processed samples by 50%; and reduce hands-on protocol time while improving outcomes, potentially through automation development or partnerships.

Requirements

Ph.D. in biology, chemistry, bioengineering, materials science, mechanical engineering, or a related field, or equivalent research or industry experience.
Strong track record of end-to-end experimental ownership.
Experience developing methods or protocols; hydrogel chemistry, expansion microscopy, immunohistochemistry, or tissue processing experience is ideal.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
Strong record-keeping practices and attention to reproducibility.

Nice To Haves

Experience with advanced optical microscope modalities, such as spinning-disc confocal or light-sheet microscopy.
Experience designing or applying quantitative scoring systems for expansion microscopy or imaging data.
Experience scaling expansion microscopy throughput in routine production environments.
Experience automating laboratory workflows, such as using liquid handlers, Arduino or Raspberry Pi microcontrollers, or Python scripting.
Experience working in fast-paced, startup-like research environments where roles span multiple technical domains.
Strong engineers new to these techniques and creative experimentalists from outside neuroscience with experience developing expansion microscopy or similar methods in other fields are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Independently design, coordinate, and execute bench-level experiments focused on expansion microscopy.
Operate within the sample production pipeline to ensure a continuous flow of high-quality gels.
Iteratively optimize expansion microscopy workflows by designing, sourcing, and adapting techniques and methodologies from literature and the scientific community.
Pilot protocol variations to optimize signal retention across multiple rounds of immunostaining, imaging, and signal extinction.
Pilot methods to increase diffusion within expanded hydrogel/tissue hybrids, including testing commercially available devices such as ultrasound or microwave devices and designing custom devices with external vendors.
Collaborate with experimental and computational scientists to design experiments, analyze data, and interpret results.
Maintain excellent laboratory notebook practices and communicate results through reports and presentations.
Contribute to and assist with preparation of manuscripts, abstracts, and other scientific documents.
Develop and integrate quantitative expansion microscopy quality-control metrics and stage-gate thresholds into routine pipeline measurements.
Improve gel yield, sample quality, reproducibility, throughput, and the physical sample sizes the pipeline can process.
Reduce hands-on protocol time, including through in-house automation development or automation partnerships.