Microscopy Scientist — Tissue Processing & Expansion Microscopy Mid · Engineering 5w

Protocol Labs, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Protocol Labs, Inc. is seeking a scientist based in San Francisco, California to lead and improve the processing of mammalian brain tissue for high-resolution imaging. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in a relevant field, along with strong hands-on experience in neural tissue processing, staining, and microscopy. Responsibilities include optimizing workflows, developing new protocols, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. Competitive salary based on experience offered.

Qualifications

• Strong hands-on experience with neural tissue processing, staining, immunofluorescence, and microscopy-based workflows.
• Experience with tissue-processing methods for high-volume, high-resolution imaging, such as expansion microscopy.
• Understanding of fluorescence, fluorophore labeling chemistry, and signal amplification methods.

Responsibilities

• Lead and improve the processing, staining, and preparation of mammalian brain tissue.
• Develop and improve expansion microscopy pipelines for large tissue samples.
• Execute signal amplification strategies to improve signal-to-noise ratio.

Skills

hands-on experience with neural tissue processing

immunofluorescence

microscopy-based workflows

strong scientific judgment

detail-oriented

Education

Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in neuroscience, biology, bioengineering, biomedical engineering, molecular biology, or chemistry

Tools

fluorescence microscopy

CLARITY

Job description

About Eon

Eon is building large-scale connectomic data collection systems to enable safe and scalable brain emulation technology. Our mission is to help bring human intelligence into the digital age.

We are looking for a scientist to help build robust tissue processing and expansion microscopy pipelines for high-resolution volumetric imaging of mammalian brain tissue.

The Role

We are looking for a scientist to lead and improve the processing, staining, and preparation of mammalian brain tissue for high-resolution volumetric optical imaging.

This role sits at the intersection of tissue processing, expansion microscopy, fluorescence imaging, and pipeline development. You will work closely with researchers, animal teams, and engineering teams to build robust and reproducible workflows that integrate cleanly into Eon’s broader imaging pipeline.

This is a hands‑on role for someone who is excited to develop new protocols, troubleshoot messy real‑world biological systems, and push tissue preparation methods toward greater quality, consistency, and scale.

What You’ll Work On

Your work may include:

• optimizing staining of large mammalian neural tissue for strong, reproducible signal quality
• developing and improving expansion microscopy pipelines for large tissue samples
• refining tissue processing methods to improve quality, consistency, and throughput
• executing signal amplification strategies to improve signal‑to‑noise ratio
• validating antibodies and other staining reagents for use in neural tissue
• characterizing processed tissue using fluorescence microscopy and integrating samples into volumetric imaging workflows
• collaborating across teams to improve upstream and downstream pipeline performance
• developing new protocols for thick tissue staining, section handling, and whole‑brain processing

About You

We are looking for someone with strong scientific judgment, high agency, and deep comfort working in a fast‑moving experimental environment.

You should be excited by the idea of building new workflows rather than just running established ones. The right person for this role is detail‑oriented, highly hands‑on, and motivated by the challenge of making complex biological systems more reliable and scalable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in neuroscience, biology, bioengineering, biomedical engineering, molecular biology, chemistry, or a related field
• strong hands‑on experience with neural tissue processing, staining, immunofluorescence, and microscopy‑based workflows
• experience with tissue‑processing methods for high‑volume, high‑resolution imaging, such as expansion microscopy, CLARITY, or related approaches
• familiarity with neuroanatomy and preservation of tissue architecture
• understanding of fluorescence, fluorophore labeling chemistry, and signal amplification methods
• ability to perform basic bioconjugation chemistry
• familiarity with standard and advanced fluorescence microscopy techniques, including confocal and light‑sheet microscopy
• strong experimental judgment and comfort iterating on protocols in a fast‑moving research environment

Advanced degrees are preferred for candidates who will lead protocol development, but equivalent practical experience is equally valued.

Nice to Have

• experience working with neural tissue samples or large‑volume staining workflows
• experience developing new tissue‑processing or sample‑preparation protocols
• familiarity with whole‑brain or large‑scale imaging pipelines
• experience working closely with microscopy, animal, or engineering teams in a cross‑functional setting

Example Projects

Examples of projects you may work on include:

• developing protocols for staining neural tissue samples greater than 1 mm with antibodies and small‑molecule stains
• improving the preparation or synthesis of staining reagents with stronger fluorescent signal
• processing mammalian brain tissue at scale for microscopic analysis
• regularly performing expansion microscopy on tissue samples and improving the robustness of the workflow
• building a tissue‑preparation pipeline that feeds directly into large‑scale connectomic imaging

Compensation

Competitive salary. Based on experience, initiative, leadership skills, and independent work and equity.