Image Processing Specialist

EMBL is Europe’s life sciences laboratory – an intergovernmental organisation with more than 110 independent research groups and service teams covering the spectrum of molecular biology. It operates across six sites in Heidelberg (headquarters), Barcelona, Cambridge, Grenoble, Hamburg and Rome. Our mission is to perform basic research in molecular and cell biology; train scientists, students and visitors at all levels; offer vital services to scientists in the public and private sectors within the member states; develop new instruments and methods; and engage actively in technology transfer.

The research group of Alba Diz-Muñoz at the Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit of EMBL Heidelberg is seeking an image analysis expert. The successful candidate will work closely with scientific personnel and students in the lab to develop bespoke image analysis pipelines for a wide variety of scientific projects and imaging modalities. Our international and enthusiastic team performs high quality research in the areas of cell biology, biophysics and medicine with a particular interest in the role of mechanics at the interface between the cell and its surroundings. We work with a variety of imaging modalities including live and fixed-cell fluorescence microscopy, optogenetic experiments, cryo-electron tomography, and expansion microscopy.

Your role

• Analysing advanced light microscopy data. The position could also include analysis of data from other imaging modalities such as electron microscopy.
• Collaborating closely with lab members to develop and troubleshoot various imaging workflows based on specific project needs.
• Assisting with data management; ensuring that imaging data, data analysis, and workflows related to published work comply with open science best practices by managing the lab GitHub and ensuring that published data are properly deposited in the relevant repositories.
• Introducing new users to image processing workflows and assisting in their execution.
• Staying up to date with the latest developments in image analysis methods and technologies.

You have

• Extensive experience in image analysis and software development, experience in image processing techniques for biological applications.
• Experience in programming.
• Experience in machine learning.
• Strong motivation to support and train users.
• Excellent skills in organisation, documentation, and reporting.
• Ability to work pro-actively across a broad range of functions in a dynamic, international, and interdisciplinary environment.
• Motivation to learn new tools and push the boundaries of biological image analysis
• Good interpersonal skills and solid written and spoken English.
• Knowledge of cell biology/biophysics will be considered an advantage.

The Diz-Muñoz group is an international and interdisciplinary group of researchers. We thrive on collaboration, open discussion, and helping each other. In the Diz-Muñoz group we believe that diversity is a great strength, and that researchers thrive when they feel safe to discuss crazy ideas and open share any struggles or problems. The candidate will also be expected to support these values.

• Don’t meet every single requirement? We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply nevertheless.

Contract length: 1 year

Salary: Grade 5 (salary starting from 4.031,02 EUR monthly after tax, before ~12% EMBL social security dedcutions)

Why join us

EMBL is curiosity-driven, community-oriented and international. As an inclusive, equal opportunity employer, we believe that diversity enables us to collaborate more effectively and be innovative in our approaches. We are, therefore, committed to creating an inclusive and flexible culture - one where everyone can realise their full potential and make a positive contribution to our organisation.

We encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing team – we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and personal experiences reflect the diversity of the populations that our science serves. We actively encourage applications from all genders and cultures, ethnic groups and all demographics to help us avoid perpetuating biases and oversights at this transformational point in our people strategy.

Enjoy Lots Of Benefits

• Financial incentives: Salary free of income tax, Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances
• Flexible working arrangements
• Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)
• Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition to public holidays
• Relocation package including installation grant (if applicable)
• Campus life: Free shuttle bus (select sites), on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)
• Family benefits: Kindergarten (Heidelberg), 10 days of child sick leave, generous paid maternity/parental leave and monthly family & child allowances
• Benefits for international newcomers: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance.
• For detailed information please visit our employee benefits page here

What else you need to know

• International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Visit our International Applicants page, to find out more.
• EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we apply DORA principles to our recruitment and performance assessment processes here.
• Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we strongly believe that inclusive and diverse teams benefit from higher levels of innovation and creative thought. We encourage applications from women, LGBTQ+ & individuals from all nationalities.
• How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system. Applications will close at 23:59 CET on the date shown below. We aim to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date.

Closing Date

08/09/2025