The Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS) , one of the largest institutes of the Faculty of Science, has a vacancy for an optical engineer with experience in adaptive optics and advanced microscopy.

In the Innovative Microscopy Lab we work on the development of Re-scan Confocal Microscopy (RCM). This is a simple method to obtain improved resolution in confocal microscopy. In this project we will investigate how the RCM performs in deep-tissue imaging applications such as imaging of brain- and tumour tissue.  To do that we will use NIR single photon fluorescence RCM microscopy and adaptive optics in order to minimize scatter and optical aberrations.  This research is part of a European collaboration project where academics and companies work together to develop innovative technology. The Dutch company in this collaboration, brings the RCM to the market.

The candidate has the task to build a new optical set-up containing adaptive optics components (SLM, deformable mirrors and -lenses) and high-speed scanners. The performance of the new set-up will be characterised and applied on real brain- and tumour tissue.

The candidate:

• has a Master's or a PhD degree in engineering, preferentially optical engineering;
• has experience in optical design of the microscope and has preferentially experience in adaptive optics technology.  This experience can be proven by a PhD thesis or master thesis in this or in a related subject;
• has experience in programming and image acquisition/analysis;
• likes to work in a small group of enthusiastic researchers and likes to collaborate with several companies. 

The appointment will be on a temporary basis for a period of 1 year. After satisfactory evaluation it can be extended with 1 more year to a total duration of 2 years.

Based on a full-time appointment (38 hours per week) the gross monthly salary will be maximal €3,605 in the first year, depending on the education level and experience. The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities is applicable.

University of Amsterdam

With over 5,000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.  

The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences

The Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS) is one of the largest institutes of the Faculty of Science. Its approximately 240 scientists and staff members work in 16 research groups that perform excellent research centered on three themes:

1. Cell & Sytems Biology;
2. Neurosciences, and
3. Molecular Life Sciences.

Dr. Erik Manders’ 'Innovative Microscopy Lab' investigates new optical methods to improve the resolution of the confocal microscope. In the current project we focus on the application of near infra-red re-scan confocal microscopy (NIR-RCM) for deep-tissue imaging. In this context we are seeking for an optical engineer with experience in adaptive optics and advanced microscopy.