Postdoc In-Situ Cryo-ET

Job description

We seek a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to develop and apply integrated workflows for in situ cryogenic electron tomography (cryo-ET). The project will focus on automating cellular targeting and lamella preparation of frozen-hydrated biological specimen on a unique instrument, with the aim of enabling efficient and reproducible structural analysis of molecular complexes in their native cellular environment.

The candidate will establish streamlined and AI-facilitated approaches for identifying regions of interest, guiding site-specific lamella preparation, and acquiring high-quality cryo-ET data. The candidate will apply these workflows to challenging questions in the structural cell biology of the assembly of a unique machinery involed in bacterial motility and cell-autonomous immunity. Working at the intersection of technical development and biological applications, the candidate will also contribute to the development of computational methods for the contextual interpretation of cellular tomograms. The position involves close interaction with other experimentalists and computational researchers who together work towards methodological advances that facilitate biological discovery.

Your home base will be the Jakobi Lab at TU Delft | Kavli Institute of Nanoscience. We are a multidisciplinary, international and diverse team of scientists with backgrounds ranging from (bio)chemistry and physics to bioinformatics and cell biology. Our drive is to push boundaries in our aim to visualise molecular processes in their native context and at the highest possible resolution. As part of the Department of Bionanoscience and the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, we enjoy access to state-of-the-art infrastructure for biochemistry, molecular imaging, cryoEM/ET and high-performance computing. We are also committed to world-class education, and you will have the opportunity to contribute by mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. We foster a friendly, collaborative, and non-hierarchical environment where ideas and expertise are openly shared in pursuit of ambitious scientific goals. You will receive strong support and training to further your personal and professional development.

This is an EU funded project, named INFLAMMAZOOM, within program Horizon Europe | European Research Council (ERC).

Job requirements

We seek an outstanding structural biologist or (bio)physicist with a strong affinity for working at the intersection of method/instrument development and structural cell biology. The ideal candidate has a genuine interest in advancing fundamental methodology for cryogenic electron tomography and enjoys working closely with experimental and computational researchers to advance our understanding of fundamental biological processes. We are looking for a candidate with intellectual creativity, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively across disciplines.

Required qualifications

• You hold a PhD in (bio)physics, structural biology a related field.
• You have demonstrated experience in FIB-SEM workflows and cryogenic electron tomography, including correlative light and electron microscopy.
• You have experience with image analysis, ideally in the context of electron microscopy.
• You have strong computational and programming skills (e.g. Python, Julia).
• You have an interest in, or experience with, machine learning approaches for scientific data analysis.
• You have a strong interest in interdisciplinary research and enjoy collaborating with experimental and computational scientists.
• You communicate clearly and effectively in English, as you will work in an international research environment.

Ideally, you also have

• Experience with cryo-EM or cryo-ET data analysis, including areas such as tilt series alignment, 2D/3D template matching, or subtomogram averaging.
• Experience with handling, culturing and manipulation bacterial and mammalian cells.
• Familiarity with scientific software and instrument development.
• A track record of peer-reviewed publications demonstrating methodological or computational contributions.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 2 years. Temporary external finance.
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave.
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.