Director of Scientific Research, Single-molecule Imaging Center

The Department of Structural Biology at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital is seeking to hire a Director of the Single-Molecule imaging Center (SMC) to lead an interdisciplinary team, whose backgrounds span computer science, engineering, applied math, biophysics and biology, to advance the frontiers of single-molecule research while also implementing focused strategies to work with non-experts seeking to incorporate single-molecule methods into their discovery pipeline.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience developing and utilizing single-molecule fluorescence microscopy methods to reveal new insights in biology and/or medicine and sufficient technical background to design and implement hardware and software solutions that facilitate instrument stability, experimental throughput and Center accessibility as well as teach and disseminate knowledge to non-experts.

The mission of the SMC e is to push the frontiers of single-molecule methods development across multiple modalities, while making these technologies accessible to a broad user base of biology-focused scientists within the department of Structural Biology, and across the Institution and its affiliates.

The SMC houses a variety of cutting-edge single-molecule instruments, both in vitro and in living cells, with a mission to utilize these technologies for high-impact projects that advance the understanding and treatment of catastrophic childhood diseases, including infectious diseases and cancers. This includes instruments for confocal time-correlated single-photon counting (Pico Quant MT200), spinning disk confocal, objective-based TIRF, prism-based TIRF, combined fluorescence and optical trap (Lumicks C-Trap), and DNA curtain measurements.

While some instruments have commercial foundations, most have been customized, or home-built, to maximize data quality, throughput, time resolution, and ease of use by non-experts. To facilitate engagement and the data colletion-to-publication processes, the SMC maintains bespoke software tools for instrument control, data acquisition (FLASH), and data analysis (SPARTAN) softwares, which are disseminated for widespread use by the single-molecule community.

• Direct Center activity on a day-to-day basis to ensure staff are efficiently tasked, instruments are properly functioning and correctly utilized, and data is appropriately managed.
• Lead the planning and implementation of experimental strategies and next generation instruments to ensure the Center stays at the technological frontier.
• Oversee and contribute to the development of software tools for instrument control, data analysis, and project management, pursuing continued technical advances while ensuring seamless operations.
• Lead high-impact collaborations with laboratories at St Jude to leverage single-molecule methods for investigations of diverse biological systems with scientists who may not have previous experience.
• Lead internal projects that advance the state-of-the-art methods enabling single-molecule research, including the design of new instrumentation that implements innovations in surface chemistry, fluorophore engineering, optical treatments, microfluidic strategies, camera technologies, software developments, and algorithms for robust analyses.
• Establish policies and procedures for users and staff to maximize the productivity of Center resources and keep the instruments performing optimally.
• Serve as manager for SMC staff members with diverse technical backgrounds.
• Participate and contribute to seminars and conferences to present research findings, keep up-to-date on scientific research and emerging imaging technologies, disseminate knowledge about single-molecule methods and quantitation and recruit talent to the SMC and St. Jude.

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant scientific discipline is required.

• 10+ years of experience in relevant technical field (industry or academia) is required with a Bachelor's degree.
• 8+ years of experience in relevant technical field is required with a Master’s degree.
• 5+ years of experience in relevant technical field is required with a Ph.D.
• Significant experience in a research functional area with experience managing mid-large teams in a leadership capacity with focus on both achievement of objectives as well as critical skill-building preferred.
• Experience having led large-scale projects/processes through to implementation preferred.