Senior Research Investigator
About The Position
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. The Senior Research Investigator will, under limited supervision of Dr. Melike Lakadamyali and Dr. Mustafa Mir, lead independent software development and quantitative image analysis projects that support both fundamental biological research and core facility users across Penn. The Senior Research Investigator will build, validate, document, and deploy robust, custom-tailored and user-friendly image analysis pipelines for the analysis of super-resolution microscopy data, including but not limited to single-molecule localization microscopy, single-particle tracking, spatial statistics, and multi-dimensional image analysis. The successful candidate will work closely with the Lakadamyali Lab, ACME core leadership, Penn investigators, trainees, and collaborators. The position requires an independent scientist with expertise in computational image analysis, microscopy, software development, and quantitative data interpretation. The successful candidate should have a highly analytical mindset and be able to identify analysis needs, design appropriate computational approaches, implement and test software tools, support the biological interpretation of imaging data, and help disseminate methods through publications, grants, and documentation.
Requirements
- A Ph.D in computational biology, quantitative biology, biophysics, engineering, computer science, biomedical engineering, physics or a related field is required.
- 5-7+ years of postdoctoral or equivalent research experience in microscopy, image analysis, computational biology, or scientific software development.
- Strong programming skills are required.
- Experience with MATLAB, Python, Fiji/ImageJ, or related image analysis and scientific computing environments.
- The candidate must be highly motivated, organized, and able to work both independently and collaboratively.
- Possess strong oral and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated expertise through published papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Nice To Haves
- 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.
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.
- Other duties as assigned.
Benefits
- 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
- Comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits
- Flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars
- Tuition assistance for employees, their spouse, and dependent children at Penn, and tuition assistance for dependent children at other institutions
- Generous retirement plans (Basic, Matching, and Supplemental) with pre-tax or Roth basis options through TIAA and Vanguard
- Substantial amount of time away from work (vacations, personal affairs, illness, family time)
- Long-Term Care Insurance through Genworth Financial
- Wellness and Work-life Resources
- Professional and Personal Development resources
- Access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities (libraries, athletic facilities, arboretum, art galleries)
- Discounts and Special Services (arts and entertainment, transportation, mortgages, new cars, cellular phone service, movie tickets, theme parks)
- Flexible Work Hours
- Penn Home Ownership Services (forgivable loan for eligible employees)
- Adoption Assistance (reimbursement for qualified expenses up to two adoptions)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
