About the team / job
Do you enjoy using advanced electron microscopy to help scientists answer their biological questions? Then join the Electron Microscopy Core Facility (EMCF) at EMBL Heidelberg.
We specialise in cellular electron microscopy. Our work covers the full workflow, from sample preparation to imaging. We have a particular focus on correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) and volume electron microscopy (vEM).
Our mission is to enable research. We support research groups from all EMBL sites, as well as external academic and industry users. Some users ask us to carry out their experiments. Others are trained to book and use our instruments themselves.
We are a team of five operational staff, led by the Head of the facility. We have complementary expertise and work together as one team. We are now looking for a new colleague to join us.
Your rol e
You will work on a wide range of biological projects, using our portfolio of EM techniques. You will:
Perform EM experiments for users, from sample preparation to imaging and analysis
Meet users before their projects start and advise them on the best approach
Guide users through their experiments and train them on our workflows and instruments
Analyse data and report results clearly to users
Organise and teach in courses and workshops
Help develop and introduce new methods in correlative and volume EM
Operate our electron microscopes and carry out first-line maintenance
Contribute to the day-to-day running of the facility
You hav e
A degree in biology, life sciences, biophysics or a related field, or an equivalent technical qualification (e.g. BTA/MTA)
Substantial hands-on experience in electron microscopy for the life sciences
Expertise in several of the following:
Sample preparation: chemical fixation, cryo-fixation, resin embedding and ultramicrotomy
Transmission electron microscopy
Volume EM: electron tomography, FIB-SEM, SBF-SEM or array tomography
Correlative imaging: CLEM or CXEM
Experience with EM software for acquisition, processing or analysis, such as SerialEM, SBEMimage, IMOD, MIB, Amira or Dragonfly
A service mindset. You enjoy helping users succeed and can explain techniques clearly.
Good organisational skills. You can manage several projects at once.
Good communication skills in English. You are a team player who likes to share knowledge.
You might also hav e
Research experience involving electron microscopy on biological samples
Experience working in a core facility or another service environment
Experience maintaining electron microscopes
Programming skills (e.g. Python, Java) to automate workflows
Experience developing new EM or correlative methods
Experience teaching practical courses
Salary guidance: Grade 5 or 6 with a monthly salary starting from 4.147,92 EUR net of tax, excluding health insurance and pension contributions, plus additional EMBL benefits.
Contract duration: 3 years (renewable up to 9 years)
Other helpful information
The position can be filled at Research Technician or Scientific Officer level. The duties are the same at both levels. Your grade will depend on your qualifications and experience.
Why join us
EMBL is curiosity-driven, community-oriented and international. As an inclusive, equal opportunity employer, we believe that diversity enables us to collaborate more effectively and be innovative in our approaches. We are, therefore, committed to creating an inclusive and flexible culture - one where everyone can realise their full potential and make a positive contribution to our organisation.
We encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing team – we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and personal experiences reflect the diversity of the populations that our science serves. We actively encourage applications from all genders and cultures, ethnic groups and all demographics to help us avoid perpetuating biases and oversights at this transformational point in our people…