Instructor - Bioinformatics [Req#: Position#:

Description

The Dean Lab at UT Southwestern Medical Center is seeking a highly motivated Instructor-level scientist to lead efforts in developing next-generation technologies for probing the localization and conformational state of proteins in cells and intact tissues and sub-diffraction spatial scales. This fully funded, two-year position is ideal for a senior postdoctoral scholar or early independent scientist with deep expertise in advanced fluorescence microscopy, biosensor engineering, and computational image analysis.

Our laboratory develops cutting-edge imaging approaches, including custom expansion microscopy-based workflows, light-sheet imaging platforms, and quantitative computer-vision pipelines, to understand how protein activity governs cell behavior and tissue organization in both health and disease. The successful applicant will help drive the next phase of this effort: building integrated tools for mapping protein activity states at subcellular resolution across large tissue volumes.

Qualifications

Key Responsibilities:

• Ph.D. in a STEM discipline (e.g., Bioengineering, Biophysics, Cell Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Physics, Computer Science).
• 5+ years of postdoctoral research experience with demonstrated independence.
• Deep expertise in advanced fluorescence microscopy, including custom-built optical systems and quantitative image acquisition strategies.
• Demonstrated experience with biosensor design, use, or optimization (e.g.; FRET, conformation-sensitive sensors, activity reporters).
• Strong proficiency in computer vision, quantitative image analysis, and scientific programming.
• Established record of peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work in an interdisciplinary, highly collaborative environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with light-sheet microscopy, expansion microscopy, or spectral multiplexing.
• Background in cancer biology, tissue clearing, or expansion microscopy.
• Experience mentoring trainees and coordinating multi-person scientific efforts.
• Experience securing external funding or contributing to grant proposals.