Moara Lemos: New insights from Global BioImaging’s Job Shadowing programme

Moara Lemos is a Brazilian researcher and imaging scientist. Her award winning research pushes the boundaries of structural biology, using advanced cryo-electron microscopy techniques to study infectious parasites. Alongside her research, she has also worked in imaging core facilities, helping other scientists get the best results from complex imaging systems. Recently named co-responsible for the new cryo-electron microscopy facility at the National Center for Structural Biology and Bioimaging (CENABIO) at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil, Moara is taking on a new challenge—imaging core facility management. To help her take on her new role, Moara spent a week at the EMBL Imaging Centre, part of Euro-BioImaging's EMBL Node, through the Global BioImaging Job Shadowing Programme. 

Supported by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the Global BioImaging Job Shadowing Programme enables technical and managerial staff from imaging core facilities to spend time at partner facilities abroad, exchanging practical knowledge and experience. All Euro-BioImaging Nodes are eligible to host visitors from the Global BioImaging network and, in turn, staff from Euro-BioImaging Nodes can shadow at imaging core facilities around the globe. Since its launch in 2022, the programme has helped close to 50 imaging professionals from 25 countries and diverse career stages build skills and exchange expertise with peers at imaging core facilities around the world. 

From researcher to facility leader

"Facility management comes with its own set of challenges, and my background is in science," explains Moara. "Although I have received lots of advice from previous managers and I'm very well supported by my directors, there is no formal training for this type of position. That's why Global BioImaging's Job Shadowing Programme is so important, and why being here at the EMBL Imaging Centre has been such a wonderful experience."

"At the EMBL Imaging Centre, I've been able to explore multiple aspects of core facility management. I've observed the facility's daily routines, learned how projects are prioritised, and watched the teams troubleshoot the instruments. It's been an incredibly rich experience. Seeing how everything works together has been so insightful."

-- Moara Lemos, UFRJ CENABIO

One of Moara's priorities is to help researchers make the best possible use of CENABIO's new cryo-ET capabilities. While advanced cryo-electron microscopy has enormous scientific potential, access remains limited because the technology is expensive to operate. Together with her colleagues, she is committed to developing an open access model that makes these instruments available to a broader scientific community.

Learning from an open access imaging facility

During her week at EMBL, Moara explored every aspect of facility operations, from technical workflows and instrument maintenance to project prioritisation and user support.

"At the EMBL Imaging Centre, I've been able to explore multiple aspects of core facility management," she says. "I've observed the facility's daily routines, learned how projects are prioritised, and watched the teams troubleshoot the instruments. It's been an incredibly rich experience. Seeing how everything works together has been so insightful."

Her visit extended well beyond the microscopy platforms themselves. She met with staff working across management, technical support and operations, learned about the TREC Mobile Laboratory, attended EMBL's annual Lab Day, and experienced the collaborative culture that underpins the Imaging Centre.

The experience has also given her insights into how to communicate with institutional leaders.

"I'm learning how to frame my arguments in ways that high-level stakeholders can understand and support. This will really help my negotiation skills," she explains.

Building capacity through global collaboration

The EMBL Imaging Centre is an active participant in several international job shadowing initiatives, including the Global BioImaging Job Shadowing Programme, the Imaging 4 All Pro Track, and the Euro-BioImaging EVOLVE Job Shadowing Programme.

For Virginia Pierini, EMBL Imaging Centre Service  Manager, hosting visitors is an important way of multiplying the Centre's impact.

"Sharing knowledge is one of the pillars of the Imaging Centre. We unfortunately can't welcome researchers from all over the world—we simply don't have the capacity. One of the best ways we can support the global research community is by supporting imaging core facilities. By sharing technical expertise and management experience with facility staff, they can take that knowledge home and strengthen access to advanced imaging in their own countries."

Lasting impact

“The job shadowing programme has a lasting impact,” explains Gleb Grebnev, Global BioImaging Training Programme Manager. “Outcomes include improved instrument and software operation, enhanced sustainability through implementation of charging models, setting up collaborations with other imaging facilities, improved troubleshooting practices, and the transformation of an imaging laboratory into an institute-supported imaging core facility. We offer this opportunity to imaging professions from all career stages, including junior staff.”

By investing in imaging professionals like Moara, the Global BioImaging Job Shadowing Programme helps strengthen imaging core facilities through shared experience. The knowledge exchanged during the week at the EMBL Imaging Centre will continue to benefit researchers at CENABIO long after the visit has ended.

"One of the best ways we can support the global research community is by supporting imaging core facilities. By sharing technical expertise and management experience with facility staff, they can take that knowledge home and strengthen access to advanced imaging in their own countries."

-- Virginia Pierini, EMBL Imaging Centre Service  Manager