IT Specialist-Cryo-EM
Vacancy number: 22-678

About our organization

The Netherlands Centre for Electron Nanoscopy (NeCEN) is an open access facility for advanced high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). It is part of the Faculty of Science at Leiden University and is embedded in the Institute of Biology Leiden (IBL), in close vicinity to Amsterdam and The Hague.

NeCEN is the only facility in the Netherlands that offers access to the most advanced EM with two 300 kV Titan Krios Electron Microscopes dedicated to life sciences applications. NeCEN’s mission is to provide access to cutting edge cryo-EM technology and expertise making it possible for researchers to understand life’s chemistry and develop pharmaceuticals. NeCEN provides a variety of services, ranging from cryo-EM specimen preparation and data collection to image processing and training. 

NeCEN is integrated with other cryo-EM imaging groups in the Netherlands through the Netherlands Electron Microscopy Infrastructure consortium (NEMI). It is furthermore providing access to international users through the European structural biology initiatives iNEXT-Discovery and Instruct-ERIC. Users of the facility include both academic researchers and pharmaceutical companies.

An international team of scientific operators (PhD Level) and support staff runs the facility.

The role
We are seeking a highly motivated individual to join the team as a cryo-EM IT scientist to support the mission of the facility in high-resolution cryo-EM. You will be responsible for installing, configuring, maintaining, and overseeing computational resources in the cryo-EM facility including software and hardware. When suitable, you will also participate in training and assisting users, streamlining the image processing workflow, or participating in the development of new computational tools and methods in cryo-EM. Opportunities are provided for further professional development of data processing through courses, training, meetings, and conferences within the field of cryo-EM. Salary will be competitive and will be commensurate with experience of the candidate.

Responsibilities

• Installing, configuring, maintaining, and overseeing computational resources in the cryo-EM facility including software and hardware
• Keeping up to date with cryo-EM related software and the implementation thereof
• Training, assisting, and overseeing users in usage of computational resources
• Working and collaborating with the IT team at Leiden University and SURFsara on data processing, data transfer, and data storage
• Managing computational resources in the cryo-EM facility, including, but not limited to, organizing the resources, ordering supplies, keeping records, writing reports, and other activities as assigned.

Possibilities

• Creatively seeking new and informative ways for displaying microscope and data collection. results
• Participating in and assisting the cryo-EM image processing workflow
• Developing and implementing new scripts, web interfaces, tools, approaches, and/or strategies to facilitate all aspects of cryo-EM data handling

Minimum Experience

• Familiar with UNIX/Linux
• Experience in Python programing and shell scripting
• Knowledge in HTML/JavaScript/CSS is highly desirable
• Knowledge in SQL, Java, C++ is a plus
• Demonstrable experience in designing and maintaining secure and private IT Infrastructure
• Experience in high performance computing/Linux cluster is a plus
• Knowledge of VPN and MediaWiki is a plus
• Strong motivation and ability to learn and practice new concepts/tools/techniques
• Ability working both independently and collaboratively as a team member
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Strong oral and written skills in English.

Education Level
A Master's degree in Computer Science.

Terms and conditions
The appointment initially is temporary for one year. Renewal depends on performance, need and funding. The salary depends on previous experience and ranges from € 2.960,- to € 4.760,- gross per month (pay scale 10) on fulltime basis, in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities.

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development and sabbatical leave. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break.