diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index 22084b2..e4c2730 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+0.15.10
+ - ref: migrate from pkg_resources to importlib.resources (#33)
 0.15.9
  - build: fix installation directory
  - build: disable unsigned installer
diff --git a/pyjibe/__main__.py b/pyjibe/__main__.py
index 2e45e2e..7f8dbb5 100644
--- a/pyjibe/__main__.py
+++ b/pyjibe/__main__.py
@@ -1,23 +1,18 @@
 def main(splash=True):
-    import os
-    import pkg_resources
+    import importlib.resources
     import sys
 
     from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QApplication
     from PyQt5.QtCore import QEventLoop
 
     app = QApplication(sys.argv)
-    # Note:
-    # Having the image file *not* in a submodule of PyJibe
-    # seems to cause the splash to display earlier, because
-    # presumably `pkg_resources` internally imports modules.
-    imdir = pkg_resources.resource_filename("pyjibe", "img")
 
     if splash:
         from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QSplashScreen
         from PyQt5.QtGui import QPixmap
-        splash_path = os.path.join(imdir, "splash.png")
-        splash_pix = QPixmap(splash_path)
+        ref = importlib.resources.files("pyjibe.img") / "splash.png"
+        with importlib.resources.as_file(ref) as splash_path:
+            splash_pix = QPixmap(str(splash_path))
         splash = QSplashScreen(splash_pix)
         splash.setMask(splash_pix.mask())
         splash.show()
@@ -28,8 +23,9 @@ def main(splash=True):
     from .head import PyJibe
 
     # Set Application Icon
-    icon_path = os.path.join(imdir, "icon.png")
-    app.setWindowIcon(QtGui.QIcon(icon_path))
+    ref = importlib.resources.files("pyjibe.img") / "icon.png"
+    with importlib.resources.as_file(ref) as icon_path:
+        app.setWindowIcon(QtGui.QIcon(str(icon_path)))
 
     # Use dots as decimal separators
     QtCore.QLocale.setDefault(QtCore.QLocale(QtCore.QLocale.C))
diff --git a/pyjibe/fd/dlg_export_vals.py b/pyjibe/fd/dlg_export_vals.py
index 8ed5528..6fe9370 100644
--- a/pyjibe/fd/dlg_export_vals.py
+++ b/pyjibe/fd/dlg_export_vals.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import pkg_resources
+import importlib.resources
 
 from PyQt5 import uic, QtWidgets
 
@@ -11,9 +11,10 @@ class ExportDialog(QtWidgets.QDialog):
     def __init__(self, parent, fdist_list, identifier, *args, **kwargs):
         """Base class for force-indentation analysis"""
         super(ExportDialog, self).__init__(parent=parent, *args, **kwargs)
-        path_ui = pkg_resources.resource_filename("pyjibe.fd",
-                                                  "dlg_export_vals.ui")
-        uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
+
+        ref = importlib.resources.files("pyjibe.fd") / "dlg_export_vals.ui"
+        with importlib.resources.as_file(ref) as path_ui:
+            uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
 
         self.fdist_list = fdist_list
         self.identifier = identifier
diff --git a/pyjibe/fd/main.py b/pyjibe/fd/main.py
index c6af6e8..f40fa94 100644
--- a/pyjibe/fd/main.py
+++ b/pyjibe/fd/main.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 import io
 import os
 import pathlib
-import pkg_resources
+import importlib.resources
 import time
 
 import afmformats.errors
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@
 
 
 # load QWidget from ui file
-dlg_autosave_path = pkg_resources.resource_filename("pyjibe.fd",
-                                                    "dlg_autosave_design.ui")
-DlgAutosave = uic.loadUiType(dlg_autosave_path)[0]
+dlg_ref = importlib.resources.files("pyjibe.fd") / "dlg_autosave_design.ui"
+with importlib.resources.as_file(dlg_ref) as dlg_autosave_path:
+    DlgAutosave = uic.loadUiType(dlg_autosave_path)[0]
 
 
 class UiForceDistance(QtWidgets.QWidget):
@@ -33,8 +33,9 @@ class UiForceDistance(QtWidgets.QWidget):
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """Base class for force-indentation analysis"""
         super(UiForceDistance, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
-        path_ui = pkg_resources.resource_filename("pyjibe.fd", "main.ui")
-        uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
+        ref = importlib.resources.files("pyjibe.fd") / "main.ui"
+        with importlib.resources.as_file(ref) as path_ui:
+            uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
 
         self.settings = QtCore.QSettings()
         self.settings.setIniCodec("utf-8")
diff --git a/pyjibe/fd/rating_iface.py b/pyjibe/fd/rating_iface.py
index e0dfd46..1090786 100644
--- a/pyjibe/fd/rating_iface.py
+++ b/pyjibe/fd/rating_iface.py
@@ -1,15 +1,15 @@
 import os
 import pathlib
-import pkg_resources
+import importlib.resources
 
 from nanite.rate import io as nio
 from PyQt5 import uic, QtCore, QtWidgets
 
 
 # load QWidget from ui file
-ui_path = pkg_resources.resource_filename("pyjibe.fd",
-                                          "rating_iface.ui")
-UiUserRatingBase = uic.loadUiType(ui_path)[0]
+ui_ref = importlib.resources.files("pyjibe.fd") / "rating_iface.ui"
+with importlib.resources.as_file(ui_ref) as path_ui:
+    UiUserRatingBase = uic.loadUiType(path_ui)[0]
 
 
 class Rater(QtWidgets.QWidget, UiUserRatingBase):
diff --git a/pyjibe/fd/tab_edelta.py b/pyjibe/fd/tab_edelta.py
index 6e9f93c..5735d1a 100644
--- a/pyjibe/fd/tab_edelta.py
+++ b/pyjibe/fd/tab_edelta.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import pkg_resources
+import importlib.resources
 
 import numpy as np
 from PyQt5 import uic, QtCore, QtWidgets
@@ -10,9 +10,9 @@
 class TabEdelta(QtWidgets.QWidget):
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super(TabEdelta, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
-        path_ui = pkg_resources.resource_filename("pyjibe.fd",
-                                                  "tab_edelta.ui")
-        uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
+        ref = importlib.resources.files("pyjibe.fd") / "tab_edelta.ui"
+        with importlib.resources.as_file(ref) as path_ui:
+            uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
 
         self.mpl_edelta_setup()
 
diff --git a/pyjibe/fd/tab_fit.py b/pyjibe/fd/tab_fit.py
index 99a1094..2b91d21 100644
--- a/pyjibe/fd/tab_fit.py
+++ b/pyjibe/fd/tab_fit.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import pkg_resources
+import importlib.resources
 
 import nanite.model as nmodel
 import numpy as np
@@ -10,9 +10,10 @@
 class TabFit(QtWidgets.QWidget):
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super(TabFit, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
-        path_ui = pkg_resources.resource_filename("pyjibe.fd",
-                                                  "tab_fit.ui")
-        uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
+
+        ref = importlib.resources.files("pyjibe.fd") / "tab_fit.ui"
+        with importlib.resources.as_file(ref) as path_ui:
+            uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
 
         # Setup the fitting tab
         id_para = 0
diff --git a/pyjibe/fd/tab_info.py b/pyjibe/fd/tab_info.py
index cad44c0..cf9fb20 100644
--- a/pyjibe/fd/tab_info.py
+++ b/pyjibe/fd/tab_info.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import numbers
-import pkg_resources
+import importlib.resources
 
 from afmformats import meta
 from nanite import model
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@
 class TabInfo(QtWidgets.QWidget):
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super(TabInfo, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
-        path_ui = pkg_resources.resource_filename("pyjibe.fd",
-                                                  "tab_info.ui")
-        uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
+        ref = importlib.resources.files("pyjibe.fd") / "tab_info.ui"
+        with importlib.resources.as_file(ref) as path_ui:
+            uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
 
     def update_info(self, fdist):
         hr_info = {}
diff --git a/pyjibe/fd/tab_preprocess.py b/pyjibe/fd/tab_preprocess.py
index 00bdc52..1a0253d 100644
--- a/pyjibe/fd/tab_preprocess.py
+++ b/pyjibe/fd/tab_preprocess.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import pkg_resources
+import importlib.resources
 
 from nanite import preproc
 from PyQt5 import uic, QtCore, QtWidgets
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@
 class TabPreprocess(QtWidgets.QWidget):
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super(TabPreprocess, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
-        path_ui = pkg_resources.resource_filename("pyjibe.fd",
-                                                  "tab_preprocess.ui")
-        uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
+        ref = importlib.resources.files("pyjibe.fd") / "tab_preprocess.ui"
+        with importlib.resources.as_file(ref) as path_ui:
+            uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
 
         # Setup everything necessary for the preprocessing tab:
         # Get list of preprocessing methods
diff --git a/pyjibe/fd/tab_qmap.py b/pyjibe/fd/tab_qmap.py
index 8d66406..ab1d55f 100644
--- a/pyjibe/fd/tab_qmap.py
+++ b/pyjibe/fd/tab_qmap.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import pkg_resources
+import importlib.resources
 
 import nanite
 from PyQt5 import uic, QtCore, QtWidgets
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ def get_qmap(fdist_group):
 class TabQMap(QtWidgets.QWidget):
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super(TabQMap, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
-        path_ui = pkg_resources.resource_filename("pyjibe.fd",
-                                                  "tab_qmap.ui")
-        uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
+        ref = importlib.resources.files("pyjibe.fd") / "tab_qmap.ui"
+        with importlib.resources.as_file(ref) as path_ui:
+            uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
 
         # Setup the matplotlib interface for 2D map plotting
         self.mpl_qmap = MPLQMap()
diff --git a/pyjibe/fd/widget_preprocess_item.py b/pyjibe/fd/widget_preprocess_item.py
index 987e858..2c10498 100644
--- a/pyjibe/fd/widget_preprocess_item.py
+++ b/pyjibe/fd/widget_preprocess_item.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import pkg_resources
+import importlib.resources
 
 from nanite import preproc
 from PyQt5 import QtCore, QtWidgets, uic
@@ -12,10 +12,10 @@ def __init__(self, identifier, *args, **kwargs):
         """Special widget for preprocessing options"""
         self.identifier = identifier
         super(WidgetPreprocessItem, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
-
-        path_ui = pkg_resources.resource_filename("pyjibe.fd",
-                                                  "widget_preprocess_item.ui")
-        uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
+        ref = (importlib.resources.files("pyjibe.fd") /
+               "widget_preprocess_item.ui")
+        with importlib.resources.as_file(ref) as path_ui:
+            uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
 
         # set label text
         name = preproc.get_name(identifier)
diff --git a/pyjibe/head/custom_widgets/mpl_navigation_toolbar_icons.py b/pyjibe/head/custom_widgets/mpl_navigation_toolbar_icons.py
index 1b9a892..808c222 100644
--- a/pyjibe/head/custom_widgets/mpl_navigation_toolbar_icons.py
+++ b/pyjibe/head/custom_widgets/mpl_navigation_toolbar_icons.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import os
-import pkg_resources
+import importlib.resources
 
 from PyQt5 import QtCore, QtGui, QtWidgets
 
@@ -19,11 +19,16 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
     def _icon(self, name, color=None):
         """Override matplotlibs `_icon` function to get custom icons"""
         name = name.replace('.png', '_large.png')
-        impath = str(cbook._get_data_path('images', name))
-        if not os.path.exists(impath):
-            imdir = pkg_resources.resource_filename("pyjibe", "img")
-            impath = os.path.join(imdir, name)
-        pm = QtGui.QPixmap(impath)
+        impath = cbook._get_data_path('images', name)
+        pm = None  # Initialize pm to None
+        if os.path.exists(impath):
+            pm = QtGui.QPixmap(str(impath))
+        else:
+            ref = importlib.resources.files("pyjibe.img") / name
+            with importlib.resources.as_file(ref) as ref_path:
+                pm = QtGui.QPixmap(str(ref_path))
+        if pm is None or pm.isNull():
+            raise ValueError(f"Could not find image '{name}'")
         pm.setDevicePixelRatio(self.devicePixelRatioF() or 1)
         if self.palette().color(self.backgroundRole()).value() < 128:
             icon_color = self.palette().color(self.foregroundRole())
diff --git a/pyjibe/head/dlg_tool_convert.py b/pyjibe/head/dlg_tool_convert.py
index 0944bad..8647ae4 100644
--- a/pyjibe/head/dlg_tool_convert.py
+++ b/pyjibe/head/dlg_tool_convert.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import codecs
 import hashlib
 import pathlib
-import pkg_resources
+import importlib.resources
 
 import afmformats
 import h5py
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ class ConvertDialog(QtWidgets.QDialog):
     def __init__(self, parent, *args, **kwargs):
         """Data conversion dialog"""
         super(ConvertDialog, self).__init__(parent=parent, *args, **kwargs)
-        path_ui = pkg_resources.resource_filename("pyjibe.head",
-                                                  "dlg_tool_convert.ui")
-        uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
+        ref = importlib.resources.files("pyjibe.head") / "dlg_tool_convert.ui"
+        with importlib.resources.as_file(ref) as path_ui:
+            uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
 
         self._file_list = []
 
diff --git a/pyjibe/head/main.py b/pyjibe/head/main.py
index 0bc7286..cad6e6a 100644
--- a/pyjibe/head/main.py
+++ b/pyjibe/head/main.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # flake8: noqa: E402 (matplotlib.use has to be right after the import)
 import os.path as os_path
 import pathlib
-import pkg_resources
+import importlib.resources
 import signal
 import sys
 import traceback
@@ -66,8 +66,9 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         self._update_worker = None
 
         # load ui files
-        path_ui = pkg_resources.resource_filename("pyjibe.head", "main.ui")
-        uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
+        ref = importlib.resources.files("pyjibe.head") / "main.ui"
+        with importlib.resources.as_file(ref) as path_ui:
+            uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
 
         self.setWindowTitle("PyJibe {}".format(__version__))
         # Disable native menubar (e.g. on Mac)
diff --git a/pyjibe/head/preferences.py b/pyjibe/head/preferences.py
index 736e619..76e9aa3 100644
--- a/pyjibe/head/preferences.py
+++ b/pyjibe/head/preferences.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import os.path as os_path
-import pkg_resources
+import importlib.resources
 import traceback
 
 import nanite
@@ -35,9 +35,9 @@ class Preferences(QtWidgets.QDialog):
 
     def __init__(self, parent, *args, **kwargs):
         QtWidgets.QWidget.__init__(self, parent=parent, *args, **kwargs)
-        path_ui = pkg_resources.resource_filename(
-            "pyjibe.head", "preferences.ui")
-        uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
+        ref = importlib.resources.files("pyjibe.head") / "preferences.ui"
+        with importlib.resources.as_file(ref) as path_ui:
+            uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
         self.settings = QtCore.QSettings()
         self.parent = parent
 
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 5653100..e883657 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@
 # Defined by PEP 518:
 requires = [
     # for version management
-    "setuptools>=45",
-    "setuptools_scm[toml]>=6.2",
+    "setuptools_scm[toml]>=6.2"
 ]
 build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"