Staff scientist in cryo-EM core facility
Tomáš Kouba Group
Job description
The cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) core facility studies the 3D structure of proteins and their complexes using single particle analysis (SPA). We also study small molecules by 3E ED. The cryo-EM laboratory thus closely cooperates with the IOCB Prague groups in the field of structural biology and biochemistry. The team provides expertise in the field of SPA sample preparation and characterization, and SPA data collection and analysis. IOCB is soon opening an in-house cryo-EM facility with instrumentation (TFS 300kV Krios G4 with cold field emission gun, Selectris X imaging filter and Falcon 4i direct electron detector) for ultrahigh-resolution SPA analysis for the purposes of medicinal chemistry. In collaboration with the high-performance computing group, we provide 3D analysis of cryo-EM data at the local computing cluster (~40 GPU nodes).
The successful candidate will be a key and valued member of the cryo-EM core facility. They will be responsible for operating and maintaining transmission electron microscopes. The candidate will manage the administration of the SPA data and develop administration tools. The candidate will develop data acquisition pipelines towards automation and on-the-fly data processing. The candidate will also be responsible for writing scientific reports and communicating results with other academic scientists at IOCB. The candidate will assist other users in familiarizing themselves with the SPA data acquisition workflow, as well as in writing documentation for the SPA data acquisition pipeline.
The candidate must have documented experience with SPA experiments.
Responsibilities:
- Operation and maintenance of transmission electron microscopes
- SPA data acquisition and data management
- SPA data acquisition automation and on-the-fly data processing
- Scientific reporting and communication with IOCB research groups
- SPA data acquisition pipeline documentation
- Support of local users
Requirements
- Experience with transmission electron microscope operating software
- Advanced level in SPA data acquisition methodology and data collection
- Capacity to communicate and interact with other IOCB scientists
- Demonstrated practical training in SPA data analysis preferably through scientific publications
- Fluency in written and oral English
Desirable:
- Experience with electron microscope maintenance
- Experience in SPA data automation and on-the-fly processing
We offer
- Competitive financial remuneration
- 5 weeks of vacation plus 4 days of personal leave
- Health insurance and full benefits package including contribution to supplementary pension insurance and contribution to sports/culture/leisure time
- Meals subsidy
- Financial support for parents with young children who return to work immediately after the maternity/parental leave
- Working in a young, promising, and progressive scientific team of biologists, medicinal chemists, virologists, immunologists, computational chemists, and biochemists
- State-of-the-art instrumentation portfolio
- Location in the stunning city of Prague
Additional information
full time fixed-term employment contract initially for 1 year with anticipated extension
How to apply
All applications should be sent to Dr. Tomáš Kouba at tomas.kouba@uochb.cas.cz.
The application should consist of a cover letter (max. one page) describing your motivation, interests and experience; curriculum vitae (max. two pages), and contact information of at least two references.
Applications will be reviewed and considered until the position is filled. Suitable candidates will be contacted to arrange an interview. Please note that if you are not contacted within 6 weeks, we have given preference to candidates who more closely meet the criteria. Thank you for your understanding.