Scientist, Bio-image Analysis & Operations

Location: Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge
Type: Full time, permanent
Start: Immediate
Salary: Competitive / Hours: 40 p/w
Lab Based Position (Cambridge)
 
Your role in our team:
We are looking for a versatile Scientist with expertise in both advanced microscopy and bio-image analysis to join our Imaging Facility. Reporting to the Imaging Lead within the Automation and Technical Facilities team, you will play a dual role: ensuring our state-of-the-art imaging hardware is performing at its peak and developing the automated analysis pipelines that turn raw pixels into biological insights.
You will work cross-functionally to support the entire bit.bio product workflow, from early-stage discovery to production quality control, ensuring our imaging capabilities remain at the forefront of the industry.

Your key responsibilities will include:
– Imaging Operations: Contribute to the day-to-day maintenance and troubleshooting of the facility’s high-end light microscopy instrumentation to ensure maximum uptime and data quality.
– Workflow Development: Maintain and expand in-house bio-image analysis pipelines. You will assess project requirements, select the appropriate tools, and build automated, well-documented, user-friendly workflows for staff across the organisation.
– Image data integration: Contribute to the development of best-practice workflows to integrate image data with technical and experimental metadata to fuel downstream data models.
– User Empowerment: Provide high-level training and support to scientists on both microscope operation and image analysis software, fostering a culture of best practices in data acquisition and management.
– Automation & Integration: Work with the Automation team to integrate imaging workflows into larger automation and data pipelines, supporting high-throughput phenotyping and QC.
– Documentation & Compliance: Develop and maintain SOPs, risk assessments, and COSHH documentation, ensuring all imaging activities meet health, safety, and data integrity standards.
– Innovation: Assist the Imaging Lead in evaluating and implementing novel imaging technologies and AI-based analysis methods (Deep Learning/Machine Learning) to keep the facility at the cutting edge.
You…
– Will have a minimum Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in a relevant Biological or Physical Science subject (or equivalent experience) with demonstrable industry experience in a core facility or high-throughput imaging environment.
– Possess a “problem-solver” mindset, comfortable with both the physical mechanics of a microscope and the logic of a complex script.
– Are a clear communicator, capable of translating complex image analysis concepts for non-expert end users.
– Are meticulous regarding data integrity, traceability, and documentation.
With essential experience in…
– Advanced Microscopy: Hands-on experience with high-end imaging systems (e.g., confocal, widefield, and high-content screening platforms).
– Open-Source Bio-image Analysis: Proficiency in building and deploying workflows using tools such as Python, napari, Fiji/ImageJ, CellProfiler, or KNIME.
– Pipeline Development: Demonstrated ability to create automated, end-user facing analysis routines that handle large datasets efficiently.
– Data Management: Experience managing large-scale image data and an understanding of bio-image metadata standards.
…and possibly….
– AI/ML Expertise: Experience implementing “off-the-shelf” or custom deep learning models for segmentation, restoration, or classification (e.g., StarDist, Cellpose, Careamics) and/or experience building custom model architectures using PyTorch or TensorFlow.
– Software Engineering: Familiarity with version control (Git) and containerization (Docker) for deploying analysis environments.
– Standardisation: Experience working within a Quality Management System (QMS) or developing validated assays for production QC.

Please apply via our website at https://job-boards.eu.greenhouse.io/bitbio/jobs/4822045101