Join Us

We are building new ways to visualize and study the genome in action, from the dynamics of single molecules to the spatial organization of gene expression in intact tissues.

Our lab brings together quantitative imaging, molecular biology, engineering, and computation to develop new technologies and use them to answer fundamental biological questions. We are looking for curious, creative, and driven people who want to build new things, cross disciplinary boundaries, and discover biology that could not be seen before.

Postdoctoral Fellows

We are looking for postdoctoral fellows who want to lead independent projects at the intersection of technology development and biological discovery.

We welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds, including advanced microscopy and optical engineering, single-molecule biophysics, spatial biology and spatial omics, chromatin and gene regulation, molecular biology, computational imaging, and machine learning. A strong quantitative or experimental background is valuable, but no single combination of expertise is required.

Postdocs in our lab develop deep expertise in quantitative imaging while pursuing their own scientific questions. Projects can range from building new microscopes and molecular technologies to studying molecular dynamics, genome organization, cell states, and tissue biology.

Our alumni have gone on to faculty positions at institutions including the Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the University of Alberta, and the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, as well as leadership roles in the biotechnology industry.

Graduate Students

We welcome rotation students and incoming PhD students from programs across Johns Hopkins, including Biophysics, Biomedical Engineering, Cell Biology, and related programs.

A graduate project in our lab typically combines some of the following: developing new imaging or labeling technologies, building instruments or automated experimental systems, creating computational analysis methods, and applying these tools to answer biological questions.

You do not need prior experience in microscopy or imaging.

What matters most is curiosity, willingness to learn, and enthusiasm for working across disciplines.

Research Staff

We welcome research technicians, engineers, and research specialists who want to help build and advance our technology platforms.

Projects may involve microscope design and construction, fluidics and automation, molecular biology and probe chemistry, software development, image analysis, or large-scale experimental workflows.

These positions can provide intensive hands-on experience in a technology-driven research environment and may be particularly valuable for individuals preparing for graduate school or careers in biotechnology, engineering, or scientific research.

What We Look For

More than any specific background, we value people who are:

Curious. You want to understand how things work and are willing to ask difficult questions.

Resourceful. You enjoy solving problems when the answer is not obvious.

Collaborative. You value different forms of expertise and enjoy working with people from different scientific backgrounds.

Builders. You are excited by the possibility of creating a new instrument, method, analysis, or experiment when existing approaches are not enough.

Our lab brings together biophysics, engineering, computer science, molecular biology, genetics, chemistry, and quantitative analysis. We believe some of the most interesting discoveries happen when people with different expertise work together on problems that no single discipline can solve alone.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and a brief description of what is your research interest to Zhe J. Liu at zhejliu@jhu.edu.

For postdoctoral applicants, please also include the names of two or three references.

We review applications on a rolling basis.