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Postdoctoral Appointee - Bioimaging

Argonne National Laboratory · Lemont, IL · $72,879–$121,465 a year · Full time

Posted May 4, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about an instrument or setup you built. What would you do differently now?

What they are checking: Whether they have real hands-on instrumentation experience and learn from it.

Tell me about working on a team of physicists, biologists and engineers. How did you handle different ways of thinking?

What they are checking: Whether they can collaborate across disciplines with different goals and vocabularies.

What scientific question would you most want to answer with this instrument?

What they are checking: Whether they can drive independent research rather than only building tools.

What would you do

Your 3D reconstruction shows artifacts that a biologist thinks are real features. How do you sort it out?

What they are checking: Whether they can separate reconstruction artifacts from real signal and explain it to non-experts.

A beamline user needs help with your instrument during your own experiment time. What do you do?

What they are checking: How they balance supporting users with their own research priorities.

About the work

Walk me through how X-ray fluorescence tomography works and what limits its resolution and sensitivity.

What they are checking: Whether they understand the technique at beamlines 2-ID-E and 2-ID-D well enough to improve it.

What are the special challenges of imaging soil aggregates compared to cells or materials samples?

What they are checking: Whether they can think about sample prep, heterogeneity and radiation damage for this kind of sample.

How would you design an apparatus that combines several imaging modes while keeping precise control during data collection?

What they are checking: Whether they can design multimodal instruments with alignment, motion control and synchronization in mind.

How do you register and fuse datasets from different techniques that see the same sample differently?

What they are checking: Whether they know practical methods for multimodal data analysis, which they would lead.

How would you build a data processing pipeline that works for both biological and energy-conversion samples?

What they are checking: Whether they can design flexible, reusable analysis tools as the posting asks.

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The full job description

As published by Argonne National Laboratory.

The Microscopy group in X-ray Science Division of Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory lead pioneering efforts in developing cutting edge X-ray instrumentation and techniques, enabling multimodal in-situ investigation in areas of physics, chemistry, life and material sciences. We are seeking to fill a Postdoctoral Appointee position to support instrumentation development for X-ray fluorescence tomography at beamline 2-ID-E and 2-ID-D with focus on bioimaging of soil aggregates, as well as computational framework for modeling and reconstruction of related 3D datasets. The successful candidate will develop a novel multiscale multimodal experimental apparatus with precise control during data acquisition, as well as work on data processing pipeline, adaptable to imaging of energy-conversion or biological systems. The candidate will work in a multidisciplinary team, including physicists, biologists, and engineers, and will lead the effort in multimodal data analysis at the APS beamlines. May be required to perform other duties as assigned. Position Requirements • Ph.D. completed in the past 5 years or soon-to-be completed in physics, chemistry, materials science, engineering, or a related discipline. • The ability to conduct independent research such as designing experiments and addressing fundamental and/or applied scientific questions. • Good collaboration skills and be able to work in a team environment. • Demonstrated strong analytical and problem-solving skills. • Experience in studying geological or biological systems, and tomography are beneficial. • Programming expertise in Python or other scientific programming languages is a plus. • Excellent oral and written communication skills. • Experience with automation, control, and instrument infrastructure. • Ability to model Argonne’s core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork. Job Family Postdoctoral Job Profile Postdoctoral Appointee Worker Type Long-Term (Fixed Term) Time Type Full time The expected hiring range for this position is $72,879.00-$121,465.00. Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package. Click here to view Argonne employee benefits! As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law. Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department. All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis. Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.

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