Assistant/Associate/Full Project Scientist - Instrumentation Microscopy Advanced Bioimaging Center Department of Molecular and Cell Biology

Position overview Position title: Project Scientist
Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the following table for the current salary scale for this position: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/represented-july-2025-scales/t37-b.pdf. A reasonable estimate for this position is $146,700 - $204,600.

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: Winter/Spring 2026

Position duration: Initial appointment is for one year with the possibility of renewal based on performance and funding availability.

Application Window
Open date: February 24, 2026

Next review date: Monday, Jun 15, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Tuesday, Jun 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Advanced BioImaging Center (ABC) in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for two Project Scientist at the Assistant, Associate, or full rank. The selected candidate will be appointed at the rank to commensurate with prior experience. The position will report to Professor Gokul Upadhyayula, with Professor Eric Betzig serving as an additional academic mentor. The project scientist will make significant and creative contributions in the area of molecular and cellular microscopy research.

The Advanced BioImaging Center (ABC) at UC Berkeley aspires to be a world-leading multidisciplinary imaging center that drives important biological discoveries through critical new advances in all aspects of imaging technology and that drives the dissemination of that technology through a multi-pronged education strategy to scientists around the world. ABC was intentionally designed to maximize scientific productivity and impact by adopting groundbreaking imaging technologies such as the next-generation adaptive optical multifunctional microscope, incorporating the high-level technical expertise of instrumentation scientists, applied mathematicians, and computational scientists, and building worldwide collaborations aimed at tackling the challenges posed by terabyte and petabyte-scale imaging data processing, visualization, and dissemination. Members of the ABC have access to leading - edge imaging and computing hardware, as well as exposure to collaborators from a range of diverse disciplines, including in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Mathematics, and more.

The purpose of this project is to develop a foundation AI model capable of extracting biological insights from 4D (x,y,z,time) datasets of subcellular dynamics within physiological contexts and across scales. Incumbent will advance imaging to generate petabytes of targeted and high quality datasets necessary to prototype and build this model. The Assistant/Associate/Full Project Scientists will help develop and execute the research program focused around ABC's overarching goal of moving cell biology away from the coverslip and into physiological systems. These positions will work within a dedicated team to develop and refine the microscopy techniques. This position will manage projects and provide regular progress reports to PIs and collaborators.

The incumbent will spend 90% of their time on ABC research goals and managing and maintaining equipment in the lab and 10% of their time training/supervising collaborators, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows on MOSAIC/iAOLLSM capabilities.

Key responsibilities:

Make significant and creative contributions to designing, building, and testing of a new high throughput adaptive optical inverted lattice light-sheet microscope (iAO-LLSM). This instrument aims to achieve a 10-fold increase in data acquisition throughput while maintaining the high-quality optical performance demonstrated in our previous work.

Use, maintain, and oversee the operations of the two next-generation multimodal optical scopes with adaptive imaging correction (MOSAIC) microscopes at the ABC.

Actively participate in handling/mounting biological samples on advanced microscopes and collect 4/5D datasets.

Collaborate with a cross-disciplinary team of AI scientists, data engineers, instrumentation scientists and biologists and generate high resolution microscopy data using novel transparent developing organism reagents necessary to reach the goal of prototyping and training a 4D foundation model.

Actively participate in national and international collaborations, presentation of research findings at scientific conferences, and publication of results in leading peer-reviewed journals.

The incumbent will actively participate in and occasionally lead efforts to develop new projects.

These positions are eligible for full benefits.

Lab: https://abc.berkeley.edu/

Contract: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/resources/employment-policies-contracts/bargaining-units/academic-researchers/contract/

Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

PhD (or equivalent international degree)

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

Minimum of four years of postdoctoral research experience

For consideration for the Associate Project Scientist rank: a minimum of 8 years of post PhD research experience

For consideration for the full Project Scientist rank: a minimum of 14 years of post PhD research experience

Preferred qualifications

PhD or equivalent international degree in Physics, Chemical or Biological Engineering, Molecular and Cell Biology, Systems Biology, Biochemistry, or Related Field.

Experience or expertise in light microscopy, spectroscopy, or laser optics.

Experience or experience with adaptive optics and lattice light sheet microscopy.

Experience or experience designing and building custom microscopes.

Ability to troubleshoot microscopy instruments, prepare samples, design research methodology.

Proficient with CAD programs for instrument design (e.g. Autodesk Inventor or Solidworks).

Ability to explain concepts to a variety of audiences; and oversee a laboratory space or unit.

A strong preference for a record of imaging, characterization and analysis of live cells and biological tissues.

Experience with data and image processing, evaluating image quality, visualizing and analyzing image data.

Experience making figures and movies with microscopy data for publishing articles.

Experience collaborating with labs in a wide variety of areas.

Experience executing large imaging projects (tens of terabytes to multi petabyte-scale)

Experience leading technicians

Ability to review research proposals and ideas, evaluate research capabilities, and make recommendations.

Ability to effectively communicate, participate in efficient and open collaboration, and engage with a diverse group of researchers.

The ideal candidate will be innovative and able to synergize various ideas and approaches, while exercising sound judgment to evaluate and take acceptable risks.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
  
• Cover Letter
  
• Statement of Research - Provide a summary of your major research accomplishments in approximately 250 words. Additionally, please include a brief statement highlighting your experience that is directly relevant to the key responsibilities of this position.
  

Reference requirements

• 3 required (contact information only)

Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05253

Help contact: harrisonmd@berkeley.edu

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service, consistent with UC Regents Policy 4400 and University of California Academic Personnel policy (APM 210 1-d). These values are embedded in our Principles of Community, which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

For more information, please refer to the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy.

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Unless stated otherwise, unambiguously, in the position description, this position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• 'Misconduct' means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Job location
Berkeley, CA


To apply, visit https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05253









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