Imaging scientist in the Advanced Light Microscopy Unit (ALMU)

The Institute

The Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) is an international biomedical research institute of excellence, based in Barcelona, Spain, with more than 400 scientists from 44 countries. The CRG is composed by an interdisciplinary, motivated and creative scientific team which is supported both by a flexible and efficient administration and by high-end and innovative technologies.

In April 2021, the CRG received the renewal of the 'HR Excellence in Research' Award from the European Commission. This is a recognition of the Institute's commitment to developing an HR Strategy for Researchers, designed to bring the practices and procedures in line with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Charter and Code).

Please, check out our Recruitment Policy

The role

The postholder will be working with the team at the Advanced Light Microscopy Unit (ALMU) to train, manage and support the imaging needs of ALMU’s research community. The postholder will be responsible for the day-to-day maintenance and quality control of system performance, troubleshooting, and enhancing optical imaging systems, including widefield, confocal, multiphoton, super-resolution, and other advanced microscopy platforms. The successful candidate will design and implement imaging solutions, optimize data acquisition workflows, and develop optical techniques tailored to specific experimental needs. They will provide training and technical guidance to researchers on microscopy techniques and best practices, teach at courses and workshops, and occasionally collaborate in research projects. Report and document equipment issues and initiate repairs using ALMU’s RT system. Ensure that all users adhere to ALMU and CRG policies and procedures. Interact with requests and bookings through ALMU’s booking system. Order with CRG’s purchasing system. Prepare standard samples and join the team in maintaining the wet lab area.

ALMU has over 200 users from CRG and beyond, mainly from the Barcelona area and nearby cities. As such, the role will involve addressing research questions from a broad field, ranging from cell biology, cancer biology, marine biology, plant biology, neuroscience, biophysics and cellular biomechanics. The postholder will be expected to operate a broad spectrum of instrumentation at ALMU covering technical capabilities for live-cell imaging, 2-photon, spectral imaging, TIRF, FRET, FLIM, photomanipulation and FCS, as well as super-resolution technologies such as airyscan, STED, STED/FLIM and STORM/dSTORM, bioimage processing, analysis and data visualization. More information about instrumentation at ALMU here.

About ALMU

ALMU is a walk-in core unit, part of CRG’s Core Technologies Programme and member of Core for Life and EU-LIFE, an excellence alliance of core facilities and research institutes in Europe, and on the path to becoming a Euro-Bioimaging node. We are located in the level -1 of the PRBB building and together with our neighbours the Mesoscopic Imaging Facility (MIF) of EMBL Barcelona, we provide support and access to the full spectrum of light microscopy. We also collaborate with other research institutes in Barcelona, nationally and internationally.

ALMU is dedicated to assisting the research community with all aspects of Quantitative Bioimaging, including experimental design, sample preparation, acquisition, bioimage data processing and analysis, automation and data visualization.

Our unit consists of microscope systems specifically designed for fluorescence microscopy and cover different modalities ranging from widefield and confocal to super-resolution technologies and use primarily open-source software for bioimage data analysis, including AI-based bioimage analysis. We also run teaching courses and workshops in collaboration with CRG Training for the internal, local and international scientific community. ALMU also develops new imaging-based methods and technologies and collaborates with the scientific community and our partner microscopy companies.

More information about ALMU here.

Whom would we like to hire?

Professional experience

Must Have

In depth understanding of optical microscopy.

Masters in areas such as Biology, Bioengineering or a related field. Ph.D. is preferred but not required.

At least 3 years’ experience in a research environment using advanced light microscopy instruments.

Experience using one or more commercial confocal microscope system and software: Leica (SP8 or Stellaris), Zeiss (LSM980) or Evident (IXplore SpinSR).

At least one-year experience working in a core facility environment, training users and maintaining microscopes.

Experience in quantitative imaging: sample preparation (live and fixed), acquisition and analysis.

Familiar with advanced light microscopy techniques: FRAP, photoconversion, FRET, FLIM. Familiarity with 2-photon, FCS, STED, SMLM would be an asset.

Familiar with two or more bioimage analysis tools: Fiji/ImageJ, CellProfiler, napari, ilastik, cellpose or Huygens. Knowledge of ImageJ macro, R or Python would be an asset.

Languages

Strong verbal and written communication in English.

Knowledge of Spanish and/or Catalan is not required, but would be an asset.

Competences

Possess a strong problem-solving mindset.

Ability to work independently and efficiently or as part of a team.

Strong interpersonal skills for working with Unit users and potential new users.

Effectively communicate complex ideas to those new to the field.

Highly developed organizational skills and attention to details.

Proficient in handling diverse daily tasks in a dynamic environment with frequently changing priorities.

The Offer – Working Conditions

Contract duration: Permanent.

Estimated annual gross salary: Salary is commensurate with qualifications and consistent with our pay scales.

Target start date: January 2026.

We provide a highly stimulating environment with state-of-the-art infrastructures, and unique professional career development opportunities. To check out our training and development portfolio, please visit our website in the training section.

We offer and promote a diverse and inclusive environment and welcomes applicants regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.

The CRG is committed to reconcile a work and family life of its employees and are offering extended vacation period and the possibility to benefit from flexible working hours.