Lab Technician – Tissue Clearing and Image Analysis

Scope of duties

This is a scientist role at the Mesoscale Hub of the DFG-funded Excellence Cluster for Systems Neurology (). The position has a strong focus on advanced optical tissue clearing and 3D imaging and contributes to the reliable operation and continuous optimization of mesoscale imaging pipelines. You will support collaborative projects across SyNergy by implementing standardized workflows, ensuring high technical quality, and enabling reproducible, large-scale data generation.

• Independent implementation of optical tissue clearing workflows for large biological samples in collaborative SyNergy projects
• Preparation and processing of tissues for 3D imaging, including immunolabeling, cryostat and vibratome sectioning, sample mounting, and quality control
• Operation, routine maintenance, and troubleshooting of advanced imaging platforms, with an emphasis on light-sheet microscopy and complementary confocal imaging
• Support of imaging-based data generation, including standardized acquisition, basic image handling, documentation, and handover to downstream quantitative analysis pipelines
• Preparation of samples for molecular and proteomics analyses, including high-throughput DNA and RNA isolation and proteomics sample preparation
• Biobanking activities, including standardized storage, retrieval, aliquoting, and documentation of large sample collections under SOP-defined quality standards
• Laboratory organization and coordination, including digital documentation, inventory management, ordering, and general lab logistics
• Training and day-to-day technical supervision of students and trainees in tissue processing, clearing, and imaging techniques

Our requirements

• Completed vocational training as a biological laboratory technician or an equivalent qualification

• Hands-on experience with optical tissue clearing and fluorescence microscopy
• Practical experience operating light-sheet microscopy systems; familiarity with confocal imaging is an advantage
• Experience with preparation and handling of large 3D imaging samples, including immunolabeling and mounting
• Basic proficiency with image visualization and processing tools such as Fiji/ImageJ, Imaris or arivis
• Careful and well-organized working style with strong attention to documentation and reproducibility
• Good communication skills in English and a collaborative, service-oriented mindset

Our offer

• We are a highly collaborative team at the interface between LMU and Helmholtz Munich.

• Our mission is to understand complex biology in 3D by combining tissue clearing, light-sheet microscopy, advanced imaging technologies, high-throughput analysis, and AI.
• The Mesoscale Hub serves SyNergy investigators with end-to-end support, including experimental design, clearing and staining, 3D imaging, atlas registration, quantitative analysis, secure data handling, and training.
• Our culture is team-driven, international, and interdisciplinary, with biologists, engineers, physicists, and computer scientists working side by side on ambitious projects.

• Our pioneering work has been recognized by high-profile scientific journals including Nature Neuroscience, Cai…Ertürk 2018, Cell, Pan…Ertürk 2019, Cell, Zhao…Ertürk 2020, Cell, Bhatia…Ertürk 2022, Cell, Kolabas…Ertürk (2023), Nature Biotechnology, Mai…Ertürk (2024), Nature Biotechnology, Luo…Ertürk (2025), and has been featured in prominent media outlets like the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, BBC, and Süddeutsche Zeitung. To learn more about our ground-breaking work, visit our .

• Remuneration is based on the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector of the Länder (TV-L) including all allowances customary in the public sector.