Postdoctoral Research Associate in Custom Optical Microscopy Development

This postdoctoral position at the University of Cambridge’s Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry focuses on designing, assembling, and maintaining custom optical microscopes integrated with microfluidic platforms. The role involves advancing polarised optical microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and darkfield microscopy techniques to screen phase separation in de novo designed inorganic-protein hybrid materials. The successful candidate will collaborate with an international consortium to extend ultra-high-throughput screening (uHTS) capabilities, mapping the phase space of ordered hybrid materials. Training in microfluidics will be provided, and the post holder will also contribute to supervising PhD and Master’s students, as well as maintaining group instruments.

• Design, assemble, and maintain custom optical microscopes integrating polarisation-resolved and fluorescence optics with microfluidic platforms.
• Develop and characterise advanced microscopy techniques for ultra-high-throughput screening (uHTS) of phase separation in inorganic-protein hybrid materials.
• Collaborate with consortium partners to extend uHTS capabilities for de novo designed materials, optimising reaction conditions and screening libraries.
• Contribute to the supervision of PhD and Master’s students, and assist in maintaining group instruments.
• Conduct multidimensional parameter sampling of reaction conditions and material libraries to map phase space.
• Train in microfluidics and apply knowledge to enhance screening platforms like PhaseScan and cell-free expression systems.