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Sr Research Scientist - Cryo-Electron Microscopy Core
Job Number: 2021-37109
Category: Research
Location: Worcester, MA
Shift: Day
Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt
Business Unit: UMass Chan Medical School
Department: School - Biochemistry & Molecular Pharm - W404000
Job Type: Full-Time
Salary Grade: 46
Union Code: Non Union Position -W60- Non Unit Professional
Num. Openings: 1
Post Date: July 22, 2021

POSITION SUMMARY: 

Under the general direction of the principal investigator and facility director, the Senior Research Scientist performs a variety of complex research experiments for research projects mainly using Cryo-electron microscopy and Cryo-electron tomography.  Supervises and provides services to cryo-EM academic users and industry customers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Research:

  • Design and implement research projects in the facility laboratory.
  • Stay current with the literature and regularly leads discussions of new reports pertinent to ongoing and proposed projects.
  • Design and implement experiments to further ongoing research projects, in consultation with the principal investigator.
  • Responsible for data acquisition, data analysis, and presentation of research results.
  • Organize and analyze data acquired in the course of research projects.
  • Specific expertise in the cryoEM is required including preparing cryoEM grids in variers conditions using manual and automated cryo plunger freezers.

Mentorship:

  • Train and supervise junior facility personnel and CryoEM users and customers, ensuring them are trained in current methodology and safety procedures in the laboratory.
  • Participate regularly in laboratory meetings.
  • Navigate and train the diverse personalities that make up our dynamic facility environment.
  • Provide support for under-represented minorities scholars.
  • Ensure researchers in the laboratory are aware of the experimental nuances and potential risks of their experiments – that they are using the optimal approach to obtain quality data.

Facility Operations:

  • Lead and coordinate the general operation of the laboratory, in consultant with facility manager.
  • Perform routine maintenance to cryo-electron microscopy instruments to ensure they are in excellent operating conditions.
  • Interface with CryoEM academic users and industry customers, provide advice for experimental strategies of sample preparation and data acquisition.
  • Acquire high-resolution data for customers when needed and monitor data collection quality and efficiency throughout the session.
  • Analyze CryoEM structural data for customer when needed.
  • Provide service report to external customers for the sample characterization services.
  • Perform other duties as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor’s degree in a Biological Science, or equivalent degree
  • 7 years of research experience.
  • PhD in a Biological Science preferred with 5 years of research experience.
  • Familiarity with high-end cryo-electron microscopes and director electron detectors.
  • Expertise in imaging processing for both single particle and cryo-ET applications.
  • Familiarity with Linux operating system.
  • Oral and written communication and presentation skills.
  • Ability to work off-hours occasionally.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience with Cryo-FIB instrument and procedure of making cryo lamella.

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