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.

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.

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community.  As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.

This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.

Appointment rank will be commensurate with academic accomplishment and experience. Consideration may be given to applicants seeking less than a full-time schedule.

To learn more about the benefits UT Southwestern offers, visit https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/employees/hr-resources/