Expansion Microscopy Engineer: Brain Tissue & Throughput

Mindspan Institute; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement match

In-person work

Job summary

Mindspan Institute is seeking an engineering-oriented scientist to advance expansion microscopy workflows in brain tissue, from fixation to expansion and staining. The role blends chemistry, biology, and imaging with hands-on protocol development and rigorous documentation.

The ideal candidate combines wet-lab expertise with quantitative analysis (Python, ImageJ/MATLAB) and thrives in a collaborative, fast-moving environment. This in-person role offers growth with Mindspan's expanding mission.

Qualifications

• B.S./B.A. in chemistry, biochemistry, materials science, bioengineering, biophysics, neuroscience, or related field.
• Direct wet-lab bench experience including solution prep, tissue handling or histology, immunostaining, and fluorescence microscopy.
• Demonstrated ability to run multi-day, multi-step protocols reproducibly and troubleshoot.

Responsibilities

• Execute and optimize expansion microscopy experiments on brain tissue through fixation, anchoring, gelation, softening, and expansion.
• Produce high-quality expanded and stained brain tissue samples with increasing throughput.
• Perform immunostaining and antibody screening in expanded tissue using manual and automated systems.
• Image samples with confocal microscopy and quantify QC metrics (expansion factor, distortion, labeling).
• Document protocols and provide training with justified parameter choices.

Skills

Expansion microscopy

Brain tissue handling

Immunostaining

Fluorescence microscopy

Python

ImageJ (Fiji)

Education

B.S./B.A. in chemistry/biochemistry/materials science/biophysics/biomedical engineering

Tools

Confocal microscopy

Light-sheet microscopy

Automated staining systems

MATLAB

Job description

Mindspan Institute is seeking an engineering-oriented scientist to advance expansion microscopy workflows in brain tissue, from fixation to expansion and staining. The role blends chemistry, biology, and imaging with hands-on protocol development and rigorous documentation.

The ideal candidate combines wet-lab expertise with quantitative analysis (Python, ImageJ/MATLAB) and thrives in a collaborative, fast-moving environment. This in-person role offers growth with Mindspan's expanding mission.