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Why join Harvard Medical School?

Harvard Medical School's mission is to nurture a diverse, inclusive community dedicated to alleviating suffering and improving health and well-being for all through excellence in teaching and learning, discovery and scholarship, and service and leadership.

You’ll be at the heart of biomedical discovery, education, and innovation, working alongside world-renowned faculty and a community dedicated to improving human health. This is more than a job - it’s an opportunity to shape the future of medicine.

The Department of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School seeks an accomplished and collaborative scientist to serve as Associate Director for the Core for Imaging Technology & Education (CITE). The Associate Director will work closely with and report to the Director to support the scientific, operational, and educational mission of a state-of-the-art light microscopy core facility serving the HMS research community.

Key Responsibilities

Scientific Consultation & User Support

• Advise faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students on experimental design, sample preparation, acquisition strategies, quantitative imaging, data validation, and image analysis.
• Provide hands-on imaging training to users across a wide range of biological and biomedical applications.
• Promote rigorous and reproducible imaging practices.

Education & Training

• Design and deliver workshops on light microscopy and image analysis theory and best practices.
• Contribute lectures and laboratory exercises to HMS graduate program courses.
• Develop educational materials to support user training.

Facility Operations & Technical Oversight

• Assist in oversight and daily operation of a 16-instrument light microscopy facility, including widefield fluorescence, spinning disk confocal, laser scanning confocal, total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF), light sheet (diSPIM & lattice) and 3D structured illumination microscopy (SIM) systems.
• Maintain and troubleshoot commercial imaging platform.
• Participate in evaluation and implementation of new technologies.

Administration & Compliance

• Manage core administrative functions, including scheduling, billing, reporting, and financial tracking.
• Assist in ensuring compliance with institutional and environmental health and safety policies.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific or engineering discipline and at least five years relevant of work experience; OR
• A minimum of nine years of relevant work experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• PhD in biology, physics, or a related discipline preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience performing quantitative light microscopy experiments.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in:
  • Widefield fluorescence, spinning disk confocal, laser scanning confocal, TIRF, light sheet (diSPIM & lattice) and 3D structured illumination microscopy.
  • Commercial and open-source image acquisition and analysis software.
  • Core facility or shared instrumentation environments.
• Demonstrated experience training or teaching light microscopy and/or image analysis.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.

• Term: This is a 1-year term position from the date of hire, with the possibility of extension, contingent upon work performance and continued funding to support the position.
• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education
• Staying Informed About Your Application: Due to the high volume of applications, we may not always be able to reach out right away, but you can track your status anytime through the Careers@Harvard portal.

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Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that all duties and responsibilities must be performed at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location. Certain visa types may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 058. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.