Research Engineer — Field & Lab Imaging Instrumentation (Bisson Lab, Indiana University Bloomington)

Image; Bloomington (IN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Image at Indiana University Bloomington is hiring a research engineer to develop imaging and environmental hardware for a project on microbial life in the Great Salt Lake. This role emphasizes hands-on building of instruments and requires experience with optics and electronics.

The engineer will construct portable microscopes, environmental tanks, and relevant microfluidic devices. Applicants should have a BS in a related field but demonstrated building experience is prioritized. The position is full-time and on-site, with initial appointments of 1 year.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience building scientific instruments is essential.
• Demonstrated builds are favored over formal degrees.
• Comfortable with ambiguity in early-stage projects.

Responsibilities

• Build and deploy portable optical microscopes for live imaging.
• Design and construct environmental tanks for long-term live imaging.
• Develop microfluidic devices for confined-flow experiments.

Skills

Hands-on experience in building scientific instruments

Comfort with optics, mechanics, electronics, fluidics

Ability to work in a machine shop

Experience with microfluidics/soft lithography

Python programming skills

Education

BS or higher in engineering, physics, or related field

Tools

3D-printing/CAD tools

Embedded control (Arduino/RPi)

Job description

The Bisson Lab at Indiana University Bloomington is hiring a research engineer to build the imaging and environmental hardware for a new project on microbial life in the Great Salt Lake.

We study how archaea and other halophiles sense and respond to mechanical and physicochemical forces. To do this in situ, we are building portable microscopes, microfluidic devices, and synthetic Great Salt Lake (SynGSL) tank systems housed in IU's greenhouse.

This is a hands‑on instrument‑building role — design through iteration, not delivery to spec.

You will

Build and field‑deploy portable optical microscopes for live imaging of ~1 µm cells in brine and salt‑crystal environments.

Design and construct greenhouse‑scale environmental tanks with optical access for long‑term live imaging.

Develop microfluidic devices (PDMS, fluoropolymers, brine‑compatible materials) for confined‑flow experiments.

Travel to the Great Salt Lake (1–4 trips/year) to test and iterate equipment in the field.

VMLs classification correlating microbiome community images and metagenomic data.

Profile we want

Hands‑on experience building scientific instruments — optics, mechanics, electronics, fluidics, or any combination. Demonstrated builds matter more than degrees.

Comfort moving between machine shop, optics bench, and wet lab.

Comfort with ambiguity in early‑stage projects where the spec evolves with the science.

Willing to live with what you build for 1–3 years and rebuild it when it fails.

Bonus: microfluidics/soft lithography, environmental rigs, 3D‑printing/CAD, embedded control (Arduino/RPi), Python.

Required

BS or higher in engineering, physics, or related field desired — but not required as long as equivalent demonstrated build experience. PhD not required.

Logistics

Full‑time, IU Bloomington. On‑site (lab + greenhouse).

Initial 1‑year appointment, renewable. Funding in place.

Salary commensurate with experience, IU research staff scales.

Start: summer 2026 onwards.

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer.