Project Scientist – Microscopy Data Science and High-Performance Computing Full-time NEW

Project Scientist – Microscopy Data Science And High-Performance Computing

Position overview:

Position title: Project Scientist

Salary range: $111,500 – $119,600

Application window:

Open date: October 22, 2026

Next review date: Saturday, Nov 21, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Saturday, Nov 21, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications will continue to be accepted until this date.

Position description:

The California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) at UCLA is seeking a Project Scientist to support operation of its Technology Centers and administration of the Data Analysis and Science Hub (DASH) high-performance computing cluster with specific focus on experimental workflows for cryo-electron microscopy: single-particle analysis (SPA), three-dimensional reconstruction, and structure determination in the Electron Imaging Center for Nanosystems (EICN). The position combines direct scientific support and user training with computational method development and collaborative research.

The Project Scientist will support end-to-end processing and analysis of single-particle cryo-EM datasets. The incumbent will develop and maintain reproducible processing workflows. As a scientific and technical point of contact, the Project Scientist will work with users, collaborators, and staff to translate research questions into feasible analysis strategies, evaluate data quality, recommend follow-up data collection, train users, troubleshoot workflows, interpret results, and coordinate analysis projects.

The Project Scientist will serve as the scientific administrator and primary user-support lead for DASH in collaboration with the CNSI UCLA information technology group. The incumbent will administer scientific applications and user-facing services, software environments, access and resource allocations within delegated authority, computational workflows, resource monitoring, storage practices, documentation, and training, while partnering with the IT group on core infrastructure, hardware, operating systems, networking, cybersecurity, backup and recovery, and system maintenance.

The successful candidate will perform independent and collaborative research under the supervision of Adam Stieg, Associate Director of CNSI. Effort will be divided among cryo-EM user services, DASH administration, and computational method development in response to Institute priorities and sponsored-project needs. The candidate will contribute to publications, presentations, proposals, workshops, and activities that expand capabilities and build community expertise. The Project Scientist position is a 2-year non-senate position, with the possibility of renewal.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Cryo-EM Data Analysis and User Support:

• Provide scientific consultation and feasibility assessments for internal and external users; translate research goals and available datasets into appropriate single-particle cryo-EM processing, reconstruction, validation, and modeling workflows.
• Perform end-to-end single-particle cryo-EM data processing, including motion correction, contrast transfer function estimation, particle picking, two-dimensional classification, initial model generation, three-dimensional classification, refinement, map post-processing, and validation.
• Assess micrograph, particle, map, and model quality; identify artifacts and limitations; and recommend reprocessing strategies or additional data collection in coordination with EICN microscopy staff.
• Provide map interpretation, atomic model building and refinement, structural validation, quantitative analysis, and visualization services.
• Coordinate user requests and analysis projects, including data transfer, project planning, priorities, milestones, deliverables, and follow-up communication.
• Train users in cryo-EM data processing, structure determination, DASH use, data management, reproducible analysis practices, and interpretation of results.
• Develop, maintain, and disseminate standard operating procedures, workflow templates, training materials, troubleshooting guides, and technical documentation.
• Track cryo-EM analysis activity, computational use, and scientific output; maintain records needed for operational reporting, facility review, and documentation of research impact.

DASH High-Performance Computing Administration and User Support:

• Administer the day-to-day scientific and user-facing operation of the Data Analysis and Science Hub (DASH) in collaboration with the appropriate UCLA information technology group.
• Manage user onboarding and offboarding, accounts, access permissions, research groups, resource allocations, storage quotas, and job-submission practices within delegated authority and established UCLA policies.
• Install, configure, test, document, and update cryo-EM and related scientific software, software modules, containers, libraries, dependencies, and GPU-enabled applications.
• Maintain reproducible computational environments and records of software versions, configuration changes, workflow dependencies, and validated operating procedures.
• Monitor workload-scheduler activity, CPU and GPU utilization, memory use, storage capacity, and job performance; diagnose failed or inefficient jobs and assist users with resource selection and workflow optimization.
• Coordinate with the IT group on hardware, operating systems, networking, cybersecurity, backup and recovery, maintenance windows, upgrades, outages, and resolution of infrastructure incidents.
• Develop and implement practices for secure and efficient data transfer, organization, storage, sharing, retention, and archival, consistent with applicable UCLA and sponsor requirements.
• Maintain DASH policies, user guides, training materials, service records, utilization summaries, and capacity assessments needed for user support and resource planning.

Research and Computational Method Development Duties and Responsibilities:

• Design, implement, and validate project-specific strategies for single-particle cryo-EM structure determination, including approaches for heterogeneous, flexible, preferred-orientation, low-abundance, or limited-resolution datasets.
• Develop, document, and maintain scripts, workflow templates, and automated or semi-automated pipelines that improve the speed, scalability, reproducibility, and reliability of cryo-EM analysis.
• Evaluate and benchmark emerging cryo-EM software, algorithms, machine-learning methods, and computing approaches and integrate validated tools into EICN workflows where they provide measurable benefit.
• Establish quality-control, benchmarking, and validation procedures for data quality, particle populations, reconstruction reliability, resolution, map interpretability, model-to-map agreement, throughput, and reproducibility.
• Apply computational methods to collaborative and user-driven research projects to produce structures, analyses, visualizations, and scientific interpretations.
• Disseminate results through peer-reviewed publications, presentations, technical meetings, workshops, training materials, and contributions to grant proposals.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as a liaison among EICN users, faculty investigators, center staff, CNSI administration, UCLA information technology personnel, external collaborators, companies, and software or equipment vendors.
• Participate in demonstrations, seminars, workshops, open houses, and other activities that communicate EICN cryo-EM and computational capabilities and promote effective facility use.
• Contribute to operational and scientific reports, facility reviews, proposal preparation, and documentation of user outcomes and research impact.
• Work efficiently across multiple user, infrastructure, and research projects while maintaining clear priorities, timelines, records, and communication.
• Cultivate an inclusive, collegial, service-oriented, and collaborative environment for users, staff, and partners.
• Complete required safety, cybersecurity, data-management, and compliance training and follow applicable UCLA, CNSI, and EICN policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties consistent with the Project Scientist role and the evolving needs of EICN.

Qualifications:

Basic qualifications:

Ph.D in structural biology, biochemistry, biophysics, computational biology, bioinformatics, chemistry, physics, computer science, engineering, or a closely related field by the anticipated start date.

Additional qualifications:

Demonstrated experience in single-particle cryo-electron microscopy and end-to-end data processing, three-dimensional reconstruction, and structure determination. Experience using major cryo-EM processing software such as cryoSPARC, RELION, cisTEM, EMAN2, or equivalent tools. Experience working in Linux-based, GPU-enabled, or high-performance computing environments, including scientific software installation, workload scheduling, user support, and computational troubleshooting. Working knowledge of a relevant programming or scripting language, such as Python or shell scripting, and experience developing reproducible or automated data-analysis workflows. Experience organizing, transferring, processing, and documenting large scientific datasets and maintaining clear records of analysis parameters, software versions, and data provenance. Ability to assess cryo-EM data quality, diagnose processing and software problems, recognize artifacts and limitations, and communicate findings to a multidisciplinary audience. Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications or other significant contributions in cryo-EM, structural biology, computational science, or a related field. Ability to work independently and collaboratively, manage multiple projects, and train scientists at different levels of experience in a shared academic research setting. Excellent written, oral, interpersonal, organizational, and technical