Senior Scientist, Cryogenic Electron Microscopy

Our Mission

Our mission is to restore cell health and resilience through cell rejuvenation to reverse disease, injury, and the disabilities that can occur throughout life.

For more information, see our website at altoslabs.com.

Our Value

Our Single Altos Value: Everyone Owns Achieving Our Inspiring Mission.

Diversity at Altos

We believe that diverse perspectives are foundational to scientific innovation and inquiry. At Altos, exceptional scientists and industry leaders from around the world work together to advance a shared mission. Our intentional focus is on Belonging, so that all employees know that they are valued for their unique perspectives. We are all accountable for sustaining a diverse and inclusive environment.

What You Will Contribute To Altos

Responsibilities

• The EM facility maintains a suite of microscopes and access to outside facilities. The candidate will maintain and execute the day-to-day operation of our Glacios TEM, including maintenance, troubleshooting, grid screening, and data collection.
• Execution of TEM projects in relevant biological contexts, including Single Particle Analysis and cryo-ET:
  • Design and implement a platform that bridges structural and cell biology using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), with a primary focus on cryo-ET data analysis. The goal is to enable in situ visualization of macromolecules and produce comprehensive structural models within their native cellular environments to advance novel scientific discovery and translational pipelines.
  • The candidate will engage with individuals and groups outside of the facility to understand their biological questions and carry out appropriate experiments collaboratively. 
  • In the context of relevant biology, the candidate will carry out grid preparation and sample optimization to increase the success of imaging sessions.
  • The candidate will be responsible for image processing, both semi-routine single-particle and advanced tomography processing.
  • For relevant single-particle projects, the candidate will process to uncover biologically important heterogeneity and flexibility.
  • Implement and explore multimodal data, specifically Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy (CLEM) techniques, to identify biologically relevant targets of interest in cryoET data.
  • For segmentation, the candidate will carry out small amounts of manual segmentation while implementing AI-based segmentation tools.
  • Develop project-specific workflows and approaches to maximize information value.
• Collaborate with internal teams (e.g., cell biology, bioinformatics, and structural modeling) to interpret complex analytical results, integrate imaging data with functional and mechanistic insights, and plan next-step experiments.
• Manage data integrity, sharing, storage, and transfer.
• Support the other hub instruments as needed, including our Krios TEM.
• Optimize the performance and uptime of TEM instruments, including preventative maintenance and management of service contracts.
• Ensure equitable access for the Altos community and help with the research, design, and implementation of imaging modalities.
• Collaborate broadly with the scientific community.
• Keep up-to-date with the latest research in the field and identify new areas of investigation and apply to ongoing projects.

Who You Are

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in Structural Biology or related field.
• 6+ years of experience in industry, demonstrating structural biology skills in a rapid-pace environment.
• Experience with modern Correlated Light and Electron Microscopy techniques and data processing
• Experience with Fluorescence Microscopy at room and cryogenic temperatures
• Strong track record of research excellence in modern Electron Microscopy modalities.
• Experience with cryoSPARC, ChimeraX, ISOLDE, Linux
• Assists with hub oversight and general operations; i.e. budget, equipment, etc.
• Excellent analytical skills, end-to-end data management experience and rigorous documentation standards.
• Ability to work well as part of a team.
• Willingness to execute an industrial-style facility (EM as a service, limited user interaction with microscopes).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Amira, IMOD, WarpEM, Relion and other software packages.
• Experience with Benchling.
• Proficiency with Python, basic shell scripting.
• Compute infrastructure maintenance expe