Research Associate, TEM Operations

The Team

The Chan Zuckerberg Institute for Advanced Biological Imaging aims to push forward the development and application of new imaging technologies over the next 10 to 15 years to obtain deep insights into the architecture of complex biological systems at the molecular level. The CZ Imaging Institute will create breakthrough technologies — hardware, software, biological probes, data, and platforms — that will be made available to the scientific community and adopted worldwide through a combination of direct access to the institute, open sharing of advances, and commercial partnerships.

Our Vision                                                                     

• We pursue large scientific challenges that cannot be pursued in conventional environments
• We enable individual investigators to pursue their riskiest and most innovative ideas
• The technologies developed at CZ Biohub facilitate research by scientists and clinicians at our home institutions and beyond

Diversity of thought, ideas, and perspectives are at the heart of CZ Biohub Network and enable disruptive innovation and scholarly excellence. We are committed to cultivating an organization where all colleagues feel inspired and know their work makes an important contribution.

The Opportunity

The Chan Zuckerberg Imaging Institute (CZII) is seeking a highly skilled Research Associate with expertise in Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and CryoEM sample preparation to support our pioneering work in biological imaging. This role is critical to advancing high-throughput cryo-electron tomography workflows and developing new methodologies that push the limits of cellular visualization.

This position offers the opportunity to work hands-on with cutting-edge equipment and collaborate with leading scientists to enable discoveries that shape the future of structural biology and biophysics.

What You'll Do

• Assist in the operation and maintenance of TFS Krios cryoTEM instruments.
• Play a crucial role in our high-throughput cryoET pipeline, ensuring efficient sample preparation and data collection.
• Test new modalities for data collection with a variety of softwares.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement novel data collection methods.
• Prepare biological samples for cryo-electron tomography (cryoET) using advanced techniques such as plunge freezing and high-pressure freezing.
• Maintain detailed records of experiments and contribute to scientific publications and presentations.

What You'll Bring

Essential - 

• Bachelor's degree (minimum) in biological sciences, biophysics, material science or a closely related field.
• At least 2 years of hands-on experience using TEMs.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams comprising biologists and microscopists.
• Proven problem-solving skills with the ability to adapt current methods to address novel challenges.
• Eagerness to learn and master new methodologies on state-of-the-art equipment.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.

Nice to have - 

• Familiarity with Thermo Fisher Scientific Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEMs), specifically Krios or other related autoloader TEMs.
• Experience using either SerialEM or Tomography5 or other automation.
• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Demonstrated expertise in CryoEM techniques.

Compensation

The Redwood City base pay range for a new hire in this role is $71,000.00 - $98,000.00. New hires are typically hired into the lower portion of the range, enabling employee growth in the range over time. Actual placement in range is based on job-related skills and experience, as evaluated throughout the interview process. 

Benefits for the Whole You 

We’re thankful to have an incredible team behind our work. To honor their commitment, we offer a wide range of benefits to support the people who make all we do possible. 

• Provides a generous employer match on employee 401(k) contributions to support planning for the future.
• Paid time off to volunteer at an organization of your choice. 
• Funding for select family-forming benefits. 
• Relocation support for employees who need assistance moving

If you’re interested in a role but your previous experience doesn’t perfectly align with each qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply as you may be the perfect fit for this or another role.

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