Research Scientist - Imaging & Microstructural Characterization

vVARDIS is a Swiss-based oral health company founded by Dr. Haley and Dr. Goly Abivardi, dentists, innovators, and award-winning entrepreneurs. vVARDIS is the result of a combined 30 years of dental and entrepreneurial experience, and 20 years of laboratory and clinical research paired with the creative vision of its founders. At vVARDIS, we are committed to delivering innovative solutions that enhance oral health and well-being, inspired by the vision of our founders to foster preventive rather than reparative dentistry.

Scientifically proven in over 200 publications, our unique technology can treat early caries, offering a noninvasive, pain-free solution for patients of all ages. We offer a number of oral health products targeting dental professionals and their patients, as well as consumers, all based on our proprietary technology. We value our people and believe in fostering a positive and collaborative work environment, based on our core values of innovation, excellence, integrity, and empathy.

We are located in Zug, Switzerland, with operations in Europe and the U.S. Join us on this exciting journey!

As a Research Scientist in our Michigan dental materials research laboratory, you will be a core member of a small, hands-on R&D team. This newly established lab provides in-house in vitro remineralization testing and biomaterials characterization. Reporting to the Lab Director, you will design and run studies on tooth specimens, prepare imaging-ready specimens, and perform advanced characterization on shared instrumentation at the University of Michigan campus and on site at our lab in Plymouth Michigan.

• Contribute to the design and execution of in vitro remineralization studies on enamel and dentin, including controlled demineralization/remineralization challenges, mineral-uptake, surface, and cross-sectional measurements.
• Own the lab's high-resolution imaging workstream: plan and execute TEM/STEM and/or MicroCT studies of carious lesions, remineralized surface layers, and peptide–mineral interfaces, and turn the resulting datasets into defensible conclusions.
• Develop, optimize, and validate test protocols and standard operating procedures, ensuring reproducibility, sound experimental design, and appropriate controls across studies.
• Prepare hard-tissue and material specimens to imaging-ready quality — sectioning, embedding, mounting, grinding, polishing, and, where applicable, FIB lift-out of sections for NanoCT or TEM analysis.
• Execute advanced imaging and characterization using University of Michigan shared instrumentation and internal lab resources — including S/TEM, SEM, FIB, EDS, electron diffraction, MicroCT/NanoCT, Raman, FTIR, XRD, SAXS/WAXS, NanoSIMS, nanoindentation, TOF-MS, and atom probe tomography.
• Perform quantitative 3D image analysis — reconstruction, artifact and beam-hardening correction, segmentation, mineral-density calibration, and lesion morphometry — using Dragonfly or equivalent software, and document the workflow so results are reproducible by others.
• Interpret analytical and imaging results, perform statistical analysis, and synthesize findings into clear reports and quality data for internal R&D and the parent-company team.
• Support characterization of new peptide candidates for structure and efficacy, both in the laboratory and through advanced analysis at the University of Michigan.
• Contribute to laboratory quality and safety, including SDS and chemical management, instrument upkeep, and help train and mentor technical staff.

• PhD in materials science, chemistry, biomedical engineering, oral health sciences, or a related field, with 2+ years of relevant research experience. (M.S. with substantial, demonstrable…