The successful applicant has a strong interest in the development, commissioning and application of cryo-EM and will become the primary responsible of the Arctica cryo-TEM and the Scios (cryo)-FIB/SEM.

The specialist facilitates the use, development and integration of cryo-EM among the researchers. He/she trains young scientists and research staff, in sample preparation and imaging. He/she is responsible for maximum uptime of the infrastructure.

Tasks

1. Take responsibility for equipment, prepare samples and collect data. Identify concepts, interpret data and formulate solutions.
2.  Ensure optimal system status, resolve hardware and software problems. Implement maintenance program for equipment. Take action before issues arise.
3.  Maintain knowledge of current cryo-EM systems in order to allow this to be done with maximum efficiency.
4.  Provide training and support to scientist and troubleshooting problems.
5.  Arrange and facilitate service engineer visits.
6.  Organize and implement training tutorials and courses.
7. Maintaining logbooks on project status, microscope usage, incidents and interventions.
8. Advise in the selection, installation and commissioning of new equipment.
9. Organise installation of equipment and software.
11. Attend EM manufacturer’s specialist courses.
12. Provide regular progress reports and suggest experiments/methods to advance the project and provide help in the writing of the annual (financial) report.
13.Keep up to date with developments in the field, proposing or implementing changes of direction as necessary.

In addition, in a second step will be possible and desirable for the candidate to 

• Participate in cryo-electron microscopy research projects.

• Train and supervise young scientists and research staff.

• Implement novel techniques in sample preparation.

• Perform independent scientific research through collaborations. Contribute to cryo-EM method development.

- Minimum  Bachelor in science or engineering
- Experience in Electron Microscopy and preferably in cryo-Electron Microscopy.
- Experience in microscopy sample preparation.
- First class communicator, teacher/trainer and pro-active independent team player.
- The ability to carry out experiments, including design, analysis and write-up.
- The ability to acquire new techniques.
- Interest in image processing (SPA and tomography)

Fixed-term contract: 1 year and permanent after evaluation.

We offer an enthusiastic working environment within an ambitious international research team for 1.0 FTE.
The appointment will be based on a one-year fixed-term contract. During this period you will be given the opportunity to develop the skills and competencies required for the fulfilment of this position. Your performance will be reviewed in an assessment interview. Upon positive assessment this fixed-term contract will be replaced with a contract for an indefinite period of time after one year provided that other objections do not arise.
The terms of employment of Maastricht University (MU) are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local MU provisions also apply. For more information look at the website http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM employees

Minimum salary € 2.640,- gross/month (scale 10.0) with a possibility for developments to grow to € 4.852 ,- gross/month (maximum scale 11 Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) for a full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8,3% per year. We offer a pension scheme, collective insurance schemes, flexible employment conditions, working-from-home facilities and partially paid parental leave. Facilities for sports and child care are available on our campus, which is only 15 minutes away from the historical city centre.

We have a state of the art international school (United World College Maastricht) for children in the age from 2-18 years, equipping them with the attitudes, skills and that provides them access to international universities. https://www.uwcmaastricht.nl/about-us

Maastricht University (UM) is a young university in the heart of Europe, with a distinct global perspective and a strong focus on innovative education and research strategies. We see ourselves first and foremost as an open and inclusive academic community, striving for a good mix between Dutch, European and other international students, and addressing European and global issues in our education and research programmes.
UM's mission and strategy for the future are built on four core values:
To be an innovator in education and research by introducing the CORE philosophy at our university;
To adopt an inclusive approach and to open our doors to all students and staff who fit with our profile and subscribe to our values;
To take our social responsibility seriously by linking the university to society, from the local to the global level;
To be a sustainable institution in the broadest sense.

You report to Carmen López-Iglesias, Head of the Microscopy Core Lab and Associate Professor at the M4I Nanoscopy division.
The Microscopy Core Lab is scientifically overseen by Peter Peters and Raimond Ravelli. You will liaise with M4I scientists and external collaborators. Use of the infrastructure is driven by academic demand. 

Microscopy CORE of the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML) of the University of Maastricht (http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/m4i).
The Microscopy CORE provides the most advanced microscopy techniques, including electron tomography, single particle analysis, correlative light and electron microscopy, focused ion beam/scanning electron microscopy (FIB/SEM) all at room and cryogenic conditions. Also, confocal white light microscopy, confocal live cell microscopy, super-resolution STED microscopy, 2-photon (intravital) microscopy, fluorescence lifetime and spectroscopic microscopy, Nuance spectroscopy microscopy, spinning disk cryo-light microscopy.  The team works embedded in the M4I Institute sharing instrumentation and know-how.
We organize international courses. It participates in http://www.e-microscopy.nl and eurobioimaging.nl.  The lab develops with their next-door Instrument Development Engineering & Evaluation facility new technologies.

CORE stands for: Collaborative Open Research Education.
Collaborative: education and research are best organised in teams
Open: being open minded and inclusive
Research Education is about the integration of research and education