Microscopist/ Bioimaging Specialist

**Job Purpose** -

**Main Duties and Responsibilities**-2. Provide supervision for students (undergraduate, masters and PhD) and research staff and external workers using the facility along with any specific project workers based in the laboratories.
3. Maintain an up-to-date and thorough knowledge of the literature and developments in the bioimaging field, interacting with commercial partners to assess new technology and techniques. Act as a research and information resource within and external to the facility to provide specialist expertise on 2D and 3D imaging of both living and fixed specimens using confocal, widefield, super-resolution and lightsheet microscopy.
4. Advise on experimental design as requested and utilise scientific and statistical analysis methods to assist with the interpretation, and presentation of microscopy data. Actively contribute to authorship of manuscripts for publication in high-impact scientific journals and proposals/tenders for new imaging equipment.
5. Develop standard
- and innovative operating procedures relating to current and new equipment.
6. Using detailed specialist knowledge, train microscope users with a wide range of skills and experience to appropriate basic or advanced level in all technical aspects of microscopy hardware and software.
7. Ensure that the microscopes are well aligned and maintained, contacting commercial engineers as necessary. Negotiate and renew service and warranty contracts to ensure equipment operates optimally. Investigate building installation requirements for newly purchased equipment.
8. Administer the online booking system, IT accounts and data management within the facility. Monitor and ensure the efficient and equitable use of the microscopes. Ensure that charges and charge rates are monitored regularly and that invoices for group leaders are prepared and supplied to the CVR finance officer.
9. Attend meetings, conferences, workshops, seminars, and symposia in the bioimaging field and present results of the facility’s work as appropriate.
10. Ensure that CVR-based and external users are kept informed of the existence and potential uses of the facility’s equipment.
11. Ensure that appropriate health and safety protocols are followed and contribute to preparation of risk assessments.
12. Take a leading role in advising on the use of image analysis software and develop image analysis pipelines for utilising commercial and open source software such as FIJI, Matlab, Cell Profiler, Imaris and Zen.

**Qualifications**

**Essential**:

A1 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9 (Ordinary Degree, Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4). or equivalent (including professional accreditation with relevant formal training), and experience of personal development in a similar or related role(s).
Or
Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar role.

**Desirable**:

B1 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 10, 11 or 12 (Honours Degree, MSc or PhD) in a relevant discipline.

**Knowledge and Skills**

**Essential**:

C1 Significant bioimaging technical expertise.
C2 Knowledge of image processing software packages e.g FIJI.
C3 Strong analytical and technical/scientific problem-solving/troubleshooting skills with the ability to develop creative solutions.
C4 Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical information to individuals/groups with differing levels of experience and understanding in both informal and formal settings.
C5 Significant IT skills.
C6 Ability to learn new techniques quickly.
C7 Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to prioritise work and manage multiple tasks.
C8 Ability to work effectively both independently and within a small team.
C9 Highly motivated with demonstrable enthusiasm for imaging.
C10 Understanding of health and safety regulations and procedures.

**Experience**

**Essential**:

E1 Relevant imaging experience using multiple microscopy modalities including confocal and widefield.
E2 Experience of evaluating experimental data and equipment performance and developing strategies to overcome issues.
E3 Experience of writing technical documents and reports to a high standard.

**Desirable**:

F1 Experience in coding/scripting.
F2 Experience with time lapse microscopy.
F3 Experience of coaching and training users of imaging hardware and software.
F4 Relevant work experience within a similar research environment, including evidence of previous outputs and professional development.
F5 Experience in use of machine learning in image analysis.

**Additional Information**
The MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR) is the UK's largest grouping of human and veterinary virologists. Its mission is to carry out fundamental research on viruses and viral diseases, translating the knowle