Senior Research Investigator

Senior Research Investigator

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.

Duties and 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.

Qualifications:

• A Ph.D in computational biology, quantitative biology, biophysics, engineering, computer science, biomedical engineering, physics or a related field is required, as well as 5-7+ years of postdoctoral or equivalent research experience in microscopy, image analysis, computational biology, or scientific software development.
• Strong programming skills are required, as well as experience with MATLAB, Python, Fiji/ImageJ, or related image analysis and scientific computing environments.
• 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.
• The candidate must be highly motivated, organized, and able to work both independently and collaboratively, and possess strong oral and written communication skills.
• The successful candidate should have demonstrated expertise through published papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals

This position is contingent upon grant funding.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Perelman School of Medicine

Pay Range

$80,891.00 - $ Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics),…