Post Doctoral Research Associate: Custom Optical Microscopy Development

1000scholars; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Cambridge - Department of Chemistry in Cambridge, UK seeks a Post Doctoral Research Associate to design, assemble and maintain microscopes integrating polarisation-resolved and fluorescence optics with custom microfluidic platforms, including PhaseScan.

Training in microfluidics will be provided; the candidate will contribute to supervising PhD and Master’s students and help maintain the group's instruments.

Qualifications

• Experience building a bespoke optical microscope from components including design, assembly and alignment.
• PhD (or near completion) in Optical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Mineralogy or related field.
• Background in polarisation optics and practical alignment of polariser/analyser.

Responsibilities

• Design, assemble and maintain microscopes integrating polarisation-resolved and fluorescence optics with microfluidic platforms.
• Collaborate with partners to extend high-throughput screening to hybrid inorganic–protein materials.
• Supervise PhD and Master’s students and assist with maintenance of lab instruments.

Skills

Optical design

Optical assembly & alignment

Optical characterisation

Fluorescence optics knowledge

Education

PhD in Optical Engineering or related discipline

Tools

PhaseScan

Job description

Post Doctoral Research Associate: Custom Optical Microscopy Development

University of Cambridge - Department of Chemistry

Cambridge, United Kingdom

GBP 33,002 - 46,049 per year

The PDRA will be responsible for designing, assembling, and maintaining microscopes which integrate polarisation-resolved and fluorescence optics with existing custom microfluidic droplet screening platforms including PhaseScan and cell free expression. Training in microfluidics will be provided. The Knowles group brings expertise in droplet-based screening, soft matter physics, biophysics, and phase separation, and the post holder is not expected to arrive with that background. Consortium partners bring expertise in de novo protein design and high-throughput inorganic synthesis. Collaborating closely with these partners, the PDRA will design, build, and utilise systems to enable uHTS to be extended to de novo designed inorganic-protein composites, identifying and optimising conditions which produce functional hybrid materials. Further duties include contributing to the supervision of PhD and Master's students and assisting with the maintenance of the group's custom instruments.

Candidate requirements:

• Demonstrated experience of building a bespoke optical microscope from individual components, including optical design, sourcing, assembly, alignment and characterisation of performance. Applicants must describe at least one instrument they have built and their specific personal contribution to it.
• A PhD (or be about to obtain) in Optical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Mineralogy, or a related discipline.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Experience studying the synthesis and/or characterisation of crystalline inorganic materials.
• A sound understanding of polarisation optics (e.g. Jones/Mueller calculus) and practical experience of polariser/analyser alignment.
• Knowledge of fluorescence optics, including excitation/emission filtering and the selection of dichroics and filter sets.