Senior Research Specialist – Vale Lab

Senior Research Specialist – Vale Lab page is loaded## Senior Research Specialist – Vale Lab locations:
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research time type:
Full time posted on:
Posted Todayjob requisition :
R-3990

Primary Work Address: 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA, 02142##
** Dr.*
* ** Ronald Vale’s
** lab at the
** Whitehead Institute
** is seeking a
** Senior Research Specialist
** to support their
** advanced light microscopy**. The Vale lab studies the molecular motor proteins kinesin and dynein, which power the movement of membranes and chromosomes along microtubules inside cells, and also plans to explore how these and other cellular molecular machines adapt to extreme temperature variations in this rapidly changing planet. More information can be found on the lab’s website: .
*
* About the role:

** Our lab is seeking an experienced Research Specialist to support Dr. Vale and his research staff. You will provide infrastructure support and training in advanced light microscopy, mentoring and experimental support for graduate and undergraduate students, developing new methods, and conducting independent research. This critical position in the lab requires high-level technical skills in microscopy and computational image analysis and experience in experimental biological research.

Duties and tasks are complex in nature where considerable judgment, independent thinking and action and a high degree of initiative are required to advance research in the lab. Work will be coordinated in a close partnership with Dr. Vale and will be performed under minimal supervision.
** Start date is flexible.
**** Application Instructions
** Please include the following items
** in one PDF
** as part of your application.
* A less than one-page cover letter that summarizes your relevant expertise, your career goals, and your fit/motivation for this position.
* Your curriculum vitae.
* Names and contact information for at least 3 references.
** What we provide:
*** Exposure to groundbreaking research and working with a collaborative, close-knit lab team.
* A team that believes in continuous learning and cultivates an environment of collaboration.
* A competitive compensation package with comprehensive health and welfare benefits including an employee education assistance program.
* Successful projects in which the candidate participates will lead to authorship on scientific publications.
* Attending scientific conferences.
*
* What you’ll do:

*** Advance the microscopy-based research goals in the lab. This will include developing new microscopy and image analysis methods and maintaining lattice light sheet, TIRF, and confocal microscopes and adapting them for specific experimental tasks as needed.
* Train lab members, or others, on how to use microscopes and perform image analysis.
* As a senior research scientist, help the PI in the mentoring of graduate students and undergraduates on their research projects.
* Actively pursue a research question in the lab, either independently or collaboratively with others in the lab.
* Assist/advise in research collaborations with other laboratories.
* Present work at scientific meeting.
* Influence short, as well as long-range, objectives of the lab. Contribute to and share in the results of the lab. Perform work with independence but under general supervision.
* Establish goals and schedule work to meet those goals.
* Actively contributes to the intellectual environment of the lab.
* Modify or arrange repairs on equipment as needed.
*
* What you bring:

*** A Ph.D. and postdoctoral training.
* Experience in various types of light microscopy and advanced image analysis as well as in leading a research project, as demonstrated through publication.
* Experience in mentoring trainees. Knowledge of microscope optics, robotics and computational analysis.
* Familiarity with image analysis methods; ability to write code to perform custom image analysis methods and pipelines is preferred.
* Ability to perform independent research and to apply experience to develop new methodologies.
* Actively seeks opportunities to increase skills and expertise. Remains technically competent at the leading edge of research.
* A…