Microscopy Specialist (or other instrumentation)
What this job does:
Operates and troubleshoots advanced microscopy or other specialized instruments. Develops imaging workflows, trains users, supports experimental design, and assists with analysis and interpretation.
This job is similar to these lab/research tasks:
Optimize instrument settings and acquisition parameters; calibrate and maintain equipment; troubleshoot signal and artifact issues; design imaging workflows; train users on proper technique; assess data quality and advise on experimental setup.
Typical starting salary range
$61k to $108k
Salary estimate represented as 25th to 75th percentile. Gathered from recent job postings, Glassdoor.com, and Salary.com
Daily task breakdown
- Instrument operation, calibration/QC, and troubleshooting (30%)
- Experimental design consulting and method development (20%)
- Image acquisition, analysis, and data management (20%)
- User training and day-to-day support (20%)
- Other: facility coordination/admin, safety/compliance, outreach (10%)
Skills you'll use in this job:
Advanced instrument operation and QC; calibration/troubleshooting; method development and experimental consulting; image acquisition and analysis workflows; data management; user training; safety/compliance and facility coordination
Talk about these PhD skills in your resume and interview:
Point to deep instrument ownership, optimizing acquisition parameters, writing user facing protocols, coaching others, and producing publication quality figures and datasets.
Alternative job titles to search:
Microscopy Scientist; Imaging Specialist; Imaging Scientist; Microscopy Core Specialist; Advanced Imaging Specialist; Microscopy Facility Specialist; Imaging Core Scientist; Confocal Microscopy Specialist; Electron Microscopy Specialist; Instrumentation Specialist (Imaging)
*Note:
-Job titles are inconsistent between companies. Try various keywords.
-PhDs tend to undershoot seniority level. Target higher than you think.
