Part-time Technical Support Specialist
About The Position
Brandeis University is hiring a part-time, half-time (0.5 FTE) Technical Support Specialist to expand the capabilities of the Brandeis Light Microscopy Core Facility. The role focuses on assisted-use imaging for external academic and industry users and Brandeis researchers. Under the direction of the facility manager, the specialist operates instruments, provides basic-to-intermediate user training and support, and performs routine maintenance and quality control. Facility instruments include widefield, confocal, spinning disk, 2-photon, STED super-resolution, and light-sheet microscopes. The specialist also supports daily facility operations, including managing booking accounts and training requests, maintaining usage records, and preparing operational spreadsheets and reports. The position participates in workshops, outreach, and professional development activities to support a rigorous, reproducible, and responsive facility. It is a part-time position working 17.5 hours per week. The salary range is $32,000–$40,000 for half-time.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in a STEM research field.
- Solid theoretical and practical knowledge of light microscopy, including widefield and confocal imaging.
- Familiarity with biological sample preparation, image-acquisition strategies, and image-analysis software such as ImageJ/Fiji.
- Strong communication, teaching, and interpersonal skills, with a service-oriented mindset.
- Strong problem-solving and organizational skills.
- Attention to research ethics and data integrity.
- Ability to support many concurrent projects for a diverse academic and industry user base.
Nice To Haves
- Master's degree.
- Experience with at least one advanced modality, such as super-resolution, light-sheet, or 2-photon microscopy.
Responsibilities
- Perform assisted-use imaging for external academic and industry users and Brandeis researchers, including sample handling, image acquisition, first-pass image processing, documented data delivery, and project recordkeeping.
- Provide consultation, basic-to-intermediate training, and technical support across light-microscopy techniques; demonstrate standard operating procedures and assist users with image acquisition and introductory image processing and analysis workflows such as ImageJ/Fiji.
- Perform routine maintenance, quality-control checks, and performance assessments on facility instruments, including widefield, confocal, spinning disk, 2-photon, STED super-resolution, and light-sheet systems.
- Troubleshoot equipment problems and coordinate with instrument manufacturers and service engineers on support and repairs, escalating issues to the facility manager as needed.
- Help maintain standard operating procedures that support data quality, rigor, and reproducibility.
- May supervise student workers performing routine maintenance and facility tasks by assigning and checking work and training them on procedures.
- Support daily facility operations by managing user booking accounts, processing training requests, maintaining usage and training records, and maintaining operational spreadsheets and periodic reports.
- Help ensure staff and users follow laboratory health, safety, and risk-assessment protocols.
- Participate in internal and external professional development, technical workshops, and imaging-network events.
- Support outreach, facility tours, and workshops for academic and industry users, and cross-train with the facility manager.
