Confocal Microscopy Core Facility

Non-tenure track faculty position

Department of Physiology

Position #03-305-054

The University of Maryland School of Medicine seeks a highly motivated and experienced individual to join the school’s Confocal Microscopy Facility. This faculty-level position will carry a broad range of responsibilities during a period of expansion in the Core Facility as well as dynamic growth in the School overall. Leadership opportunities will be available in a number of areas.

Responsibilities:

• Helping researchers develop imaging experiments matched to the various imaging systems available in the Core
• Aiding research teams in building image analysis pipelines and data flows using a variety of open-source and commercial software packages.
• Participating in scientific projects from inception to execution, analysis, and publication.
• Training faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students in technical methods ranging from imaging to analysis.
• Developing and leading training workshops centered on image analysis methods and best practices, including in machine learning and artificial intelligence approaches.
• Leading the preparation and submission of funding proposals for acquisition of new instrumentation that fills present or emerging needs in the campus research portfolio.
• Encouraging use of the Core by presenting its accomplishments, capabilities, and plans to the UMB community through seminars, workshops, and other events.
• Supporting UMB Centers and Institutes in their development of research programs that utilize light microscopy and analysis.

Qualifications required:

• PhD in Instrumentation or Applied Physics with extensive experience in biomedical imaging and research either during a degree program or as a postdoctoral researcher
• Substantial experience (>5 years) in light microscopy including live-cell imaging, lightsheet imaging, multiphoton imaging, and super-resolution imaging
• Significant record of scientific and/or technical research including independent (first author) and collaborative publications.
• Substantial experience as a core facility staff or manager
• Expertise on multiple commercial confocal systems including Zeiss, Nikon, Leica, or Olympus
• Hands-on experience for training and use of multiphoton microscopes
• Demonstrated ability to train novice users on advanced microscope systems
• Deep familiarity with image analysis algorithms including for 3D image deconvolution, experience in MATLAB, super-resolution imaging, and familiarity with deep learning algorithms for analysis and quantification.
• Fluency in English and excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to serve as a role model for promoting equity and inclusion on the UMB campus.

For immediate consideration, please send a cover letter and a recent CV, including names and contact information of three references to the following link: https://umb.taleo.net/careersection/umb_faculty+and+post+docs/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en&portal=8100108441

About the Confocal Microscopy Core Facility : This position is within the Department of Physiology, which is the home department of the Confocal Core. The Core’s mission since its inception in 1994 has been to provide researchers with a wide array of state-of-the-art light microscopy imaging equipment to enable acquisition of high resolution images (both in vivo and in vitro). The Core offers training and assistance in the use of microscopes housed in our facility ranging from confocal to multiphoton and lightsheet instruments. Optimization of data acquisition and image processing are both part of the training, thus enabling researchers to efficiently design studies, acquire image data and extract relevant data features. The confocal facility is available to all UMB researchers and extramural users.

The Core operates within the Center for Innovative Biomedical Resources (CIBR), the organizational framework for the UMSOM biomedical core resources. CIBR serves as a center of excellence for state-of-the-art technologies, high-tech instrumentation, and expertise that supports biomedical research, clinical practice and health care. The Confocal Core is a key component of the imaging technologies represented in CIBR, and operates in partnership with the other imaging cores including the Magnetic Resonance Research Center, the Electron Microscopy Core Imaging Facility, and the Center for Translational Research in Imaging. Together, these cores provide UMB researchers imaging capabilities from molecules to humans. CIBR’s vision is unified around several key ideas: Provide the broadest array of core services, facilitate access to state-of-the-art technologies, provide a centralized management structure to optimize quality control and cost- effectiveness, operate core laboratories with directors and staff who are experts in these disciplines, and foster a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment.

The Department of Physiology (https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/physiology/ ) is renowned for its research excellence. Our internationally recognized faculty lead cutting-edge research programs in molecular, cellular, and systems analysis of neuroscience, cardiovascular-renal biology, membrane and ion channel biophysics, and calcium signaling. NIH-funded training programs in neuroscience, integrative membrane biology, and muscle biology, cardiac biology, and vascular biology enhance our research activities. Faculty in the Department have garnered prestigious national and international recognition for our discoveries through awards from NIH, Novartis, the White House, AAAS, the Biophysical Society, the Society of General Physiologists, the American Heart Association, and the Physiological Society, among others. Their shared goals and extensive collaborations have kept the department among the best funded in the US according to Blue Ridge ratings: over the past 4 years they have ranked 20th nationally on average among all Physiology Departments in NIH funding, and 11th among departments in publicly funded medical schools. Core existing areas of technical expertise in the Department include super-resolution cellular imaging, in vivo imaging, genetically encoded sensors, CRISPR, and ion channel biophysics. The Department’s faculty further lead two core facilities (for microscopy and biosensor screening) for the UMSOM and lead and participate in numerous training grants and initiatives driving outstanding educational experience for both graduate and medical students.

The University of Maryland School of Medicine is a major research powerhouse in the region, and ranks 8th amongst public medical schools for total research funding. It was the first public medical school in the U.S., and the first to build a teaching hospital and first to offer a residency program. It now contains 25 clinical and 5 basic science departments, 12 Organized Research Centers and 5 large institutes (Institute of Genomic Sciences, the Institute of Human Virology, the Medicine Institute for Neuroscience Discovery (UM-MIND), and the Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine. In addition, UM contains the NCI-designated Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center. Additionally, the University of Maryland campus offers state-of-the-art core facilities for microscopy, imaging, genetics, genomics, proteomics, and structural biology, along with the NeuroBioBank brain repository.

UMB is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law or policy. We value diversity and how it enriches our academic and scientific community and strive toward cultivating an inclusive environment that supports all employees.

Qualifications required:

• PhD in Instrumentation or Applied Physics with extensive experience in biomedical imaging and research either during a degree program or as a postdoctoral researcher
• Substantial experience (>5 years) in light microscopy including live-cell imaging, lightsheet imaging, multiphoton imaging, and super-resolution imaging
• Significant record of scientific and/or technical research including independent (first author) and collaborative publications.
• Substantial experience as a core facility staff or manager
• Expertise on multiple commercial confocal systems including Zeiss, Nikon, Leica, or Olympus
• Hands-on experience for training and use of multiphoton microscopes
• Demonstrated ability to train novice users on advanced microscope systems
• Deep familiarity with image analysis algorithms including for 3D image deconvolution, experience in MATLAB, super-resolution imaging, and familiarity with deep learning algorithms for analysis and quantification.
• Fluency in English and excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to serve as a role model for promoting equity and inclusion on the UMB campus.