Postdoctoral Research Associate – Bartels Lab

The Organization

As an independent research organization, the Morgridge Institute for Research explores uncharted scientific territory to discover tomorrow’s cures. In affiliation with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, we support researchers who take a fearless approach to advancing human health in emerging fields such as virology, advanced multi-scale fluorescence and electron microscopy, metabolism and regenerative biology. Through public programming, we work to inspire scientific curiosity in everyday life.

The Opportunity:

This position will develop and apply advanced optical imaging methods for deep-tissue imaging, including coherent nonlinear optical holography. The postdoctoral research associate will design and construct optical instrumentation, develop data-acquisition and computational-reconstruction methods, conduct imaging experiments, and apply these technologies to biomedical research questions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, construct, and evaluate advanced optical imaging systems for coherent nonlinear microscopy and deep-tissue imaging.
• Plan and conduct experiments that characterize system performance and demonstrate biomedical imaging applications.
• Design, assemble, align, characterize, troubleshoot, and maintain optical imaging systems incorporating ultrafast lasers, nonlinear optical components, scanning or widefield illumination, detectors, and data-acquisition hardware.
• Design, assemble, align, characterize, troubleshoot, and maintain optical imaging systems incorporating ultrafast lasers, nonlinear optical components, scanning or widefield illumination, detectors, and data-acquisition hardware.
• Develop and maintain software for instrument control, data acquisition, image reconstruction, calibration, visualization, and quantitative analysis.
• Develop calibration procedures, performance benchmarks, quality-control methods, and reproducible experimental protocols for new imaging systems.
• Maintain organized experimental records, source code, instrument documentation, calibration data, and analysis workflows consistent with laboratory data-management practices.
• Analyze imaging and spectroscopy data using statistical, computational, and image-reconstruction methods; quantify system performance; evaluate uncertainty and reproducibility; and interpret results in collaboration with biomedical researchers.
• Contribute to the preparation of research manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Collaborate with biologists, biomedical scientists, and other investigators to define imaging requirements, prepare appropriate specimens, design validation experiments, and interpret biological findings.
• Provide technical guidance and research mentorship to graduate students, undergraduate researchers, interns, and other junior laboratory members, as assigned; this responsibility does not necessarily include formal personnel supervision.
• Attend scientific seminars, conferences, and journal clubs to stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in the field and contribute to scientific discussions.
• Lead and contribute to the preparation of peer-reviewed manuscripts, conference abstracts, presentations, technical reports, and other scholarly products.
• Present research findings at laboratory meetings and national and international scientific conferences.
• Contribute scientific results, figures, methods, and progress summaries to grant applications and reports to funding agencies.
• Perform other duties consistent with the position and research program, as assigned.

Requirements:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations will be considered and may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary responsibilities.

Required Education and Experience:

• A Ph.D. in physics, applied physics, optical science, chemistry, physical chemistry, electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related field.
• Hands-on experience with ultrafast lasers, nonlinear optics, optical microscopy, spectroscopy, or closely related instrumentation.
• Experience designing, aligning, characterizing, and troubleshooting experimental optical systems.
• Proficiency in scientific programming and quantitative data analysis using tools such as Python, MATLAB, C/C++, LabVIEW, or comparable environments.
• Evidence of research productivity appropriate to career stage.
• Strong hands-on laboratory experience with one or more of the following: ultrafast laser systems, nonlinear optics, optical microscopy, holography, or optical spectroscopy.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Experience with coherent nonlinear optical microscopy or holography.
• Experience with widefield nonlinear imaging, nonlinear holographic imaging, or computational microscopy.
• Experience with Raman or coherent Raman spectroscopy.
• Experience with image reconstruction, inverse problems, phase retrieval, holographic reconstruction, or computational imaging.
• Experience developing instrument-control or data-acquisition software.
• Experience imaging cells, tissues, or other biological specimens.
• Experience mentoring junior researchers.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Proficiency in advanced data analysis methods, including relevant software and programming languages.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, for preparing manuscripts, presentations, and reports.
• Ability to work collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams and effectively communicate complex scientific concepts.
• Evidence of research productivity appropriate to the applicant’s career stage, such as peer-reviewed publications, preprints, conference presentations, open-source software, instrumentation, datasets, or other significant research contributions.
• Demonstrated ability to identify technical problems, develop and evaluate solutions, manage research priorities, and advance projects with an appropriate level of independence.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple tasks concurrently.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort:

• Work is primarily performed in laboratory and office environments.
• The position involves extended periods of work at optical tables, laboratory benches, and computer workstations. Responsibilities may include aligning optical components, manipulating laboratory equipment, preparing specimens for imaging, operating data-acquisition systems, and writing software and scientific documents. The employee must be able to perform these activities with or without reasonable accommodation.
• The position involves work with high-power and ultrafast laser systems, optical-cleaning solvents, laboratory reagents, and biological specimens. The employee must complete all required laser-safety, chemical-safety, biosafety, and laboratory training and follow applicable engineering controls, standard operating procedures, and personal protective equipment requirements.