Research Engineer — Field & Lab Imaging Instrumentation

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 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
To apply
Send a one-page cover letter (focus on what you’ve built), CV, and contact info for 2 references to saltylab@iu.edu with subject line “SynGSL Engineer — [Last Name]”. Rolling review, position open until filled.
Lab: bissonlab.com
Blurb of the position at LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/mosz7
Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer.