Postdoctoral Fellow - X-ray image reconstruction for connectomics

Francis Crick Institute; City Of London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading biomedical research institute in London is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to advance X-ray imaging techniques for studying brain circuits. The role involves collaboration with international teams and offers the chance to mentor PhD students. Candidates should have a PhD in a relevant field and a strong interest in connectomics. This position is full-time with a fixed term of 4 years.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Pension scheme with employer contributions

Health and well-being support

Discounted gym memberships

Subsidized on-site restaurant

Qualifications

• Strong interest in connectomics approaches to studying brain function.
• Ability to work with a team both locally and remotely.
• Track record of writing papers in international journals.

Responsibilities

• Lead an independent project in collaboration with lab teams.
• Develop and improve tomographic image reconstruction methods.
• Mentor PhD students.

Skills

Expertise in image reconstruction

Team collaboration

Commitment to open-source

Research publication skills

Education

PhD in physics, electrical engineering, computer science, or mathematics

Job description

Postdoctoral Fellow – X-ray image reconstruction for connectomics

Details of the role

Reports to: A. Schaefer Sensory Circuits and Neurotechnology Lab

Contact term: This is a full-time, fixed term (4 years) position on Crick terms and conditions of employment.

About us

The Francis Crick Institute is Europe’s largest biomedical research institute under one roof. Our world‑class scientists and staff collaborate on vital research to help prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative conditions.

The Crick is a place for collaboration, innovation and exploration across many disciplines. A space where the brightest minds can pursue big and bold ideas and discover answers to crucial scientific questions. We support them in a dynamic environment which fosters excellence with state‑of‑the‑art infrastructure, cutting‑edge facilities, and a creative and curious culture. We’ve removed traditional boundaries of departments, divisions and disciplines and instead have an open approach that supports every researcher. This gives us the freedom to take risks and carry out high‑quality, pioneering research. Creating a space for discovery without boundaries helps us to turn our science into benefits for human health and the economy.

About the role

A Postdoctoral Fellow position is available in Prof Andreas Schaefer’s laboratory in close collaboration with Prof. Chris Jacobsen, Northwestern.

The Sensory Circuits and Neurotechnology Lab studies how information is represented and processed in the brain, focussing on sensory circuits in mice.

What you will be doing

As a Postdoctoral Fellow, you will be part of a project funded by the National Institutes of Health within the BRAIN CONNECTS programme, led by Schaefer with Chris Jacobsen at Northwestern University, and in collaboration with Alexandra Pacureanu at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France.

The purpose of the project in general is to improve resolution for and scale up X‑ray connectomics imaging towards an ultimate goal of imaging millimetre or even centimetre‑sized brain tissue.

We are looking for a postdoc to perform advanced X‑ray tomography imaging for large samples at ESRF ID16A using multislice tomography approaches.

You will lead the development of and work with parallelized computer models to simulate how coherent waves travel through materials with complex properties. You will apply these models to improve tomographic image reconstruction using numerical optimization and iterative techniques.

Collaboration is at the heart of the Crick’s culture. You will work closely with your lab members and external collaborators, making strong teamwork essential. In addition to leading your own projects, you will contribute to other ongoing research within the lab and have the opportunity to mentor PhD students in their research.

If you have a PhD in physics, electrical engineering, computer science and experience and/or strong interest in image reconstruction, we would love to hear from you.

Some of your key responsibilities include, but are not limited to

• Leading an independent project, in communication with the team at the Crick Institute, Jacobsen at Northwestern, and Pacureanu at ESRF.
• Intellectually leading the lab’s efforts on coherent X‑ray volume imaging beyond the depth‑of‑focus limit.
• Integrating this approach into data acquisition and volume reconstruction pipelines, and working with the team to modify those pipelines as required.
• Liaising with our synchrotron collaborators at e.g. ESRF, preparing beamtime proposals and reports
• Collaborating with other lab members working on sample preparation, experimental data collection, and volume data analysis and segmentation.
• Contribute to maintaining repositories for software and datasets.

About you

You will have

(Minimum criteria *)

• PhD (or in the final stages of PhD submission) in physics, electrical engineering, computer science, or mathematics pertaining to image reconstruction. *
• Deep interest in connectomics approaches to studying brain function.*
• Ability to work with a team in the local laboratory, as well as with key collaborators both in person and over frequent video conferences.
• Commitment to open‑source code development methods.
• Track record of writing papers as evidenced by publications or submitted manuscripts in international refereed journals*
• Evidence of data presentation at scientific meetings *

About Working at the Crick

Our values

• We are bold. We make space for creative, dynamic and imaginative ideas and approaches. We’re not afraid to do things differently.
• We are open. We’re highly collaborative and interactive, and make sure our activities are visible to the outside world.
• We are collegial. We show respect for one another, work cooperatively and support the wider community.

At the Francis Crick Institute, we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to driving innovation and scientific discovery. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed, regardless of their background, identity, or personal circumstances. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all genders, ethnicities, abilities, and experiences.

We are a Disability Confident: Committed employer and want to ensure that everyone can apply and be part of our recruitment processes and so we’ll make reasonable adjustments if you need them – just let us know when you apply. If you need assistance with applying (i.e., would like to apply by phone or post) please email: [e-mail]

What will you receive

At the Francis Crick Institute, we value our team members and are proud to offer an extensive range of benefits to support their well‑being and development:

• Visas: Applicants for this role will be eligible for sponsorship to work in the UK
• Generous Leave: 28 days of annual leave, plus three additional days over Christmas and bank holidays.
• Pension Scheme: Defined contribution pension with employer contributions of up to 16%.
• Health & Well‑being:

• 24/7 GP consultation services.
• Occupational health services and mental health support programmes.
• Eye care vouchers and discounted healthcare plans.

• Work‑Life Balance:

• Back‑up care for dependents.
• Childcare support allowance.
• Annual leave purchase options.
• Crick Networks offering diverse groups’ support, community and inclusive social events.

• Perks:

• Discounted gym memberships, bike‑to‑work scheme, and shopping discounts.
• Subsidised on‑site restaurant and social spaces for team interaction.

Please note you must meet the essential criteria listed within the Role Profile, to have your application reviewed.

We reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any given time due to the number of applications received.