Research Fellow (Fixed term)

Applications are invited for a Research Fellow to work on a project to develop plant organ models to study viral tropism in the laboratory of Assoc. Prof. Gabriel Castrillo (Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, UK).

The purpose of this role is to support the new HFSP project ‘3D-bioprinting meets machine learning: a novel tool to decipher the determinants of viral tropism’. Like humans, plants can be infected with a wide variety of viruses. Plant virus infections account for global economic losses estimated at $30 billion annually and are responsible for nearly 50% of plant diseases worldwide, compromising global food security.

The main determinant of a viral infection is the ability of the virus to infect a cell type, a tissue or a species. This virus characteristic is called viral tropism and is determined by the virus’ interaction with the plant immune system, the site of entry and the type of cell, tissue or infected host species. Thus, knowing the determinants of viral tropism is vital for the development of antiviral strategies. We propose to take a major step in addressing this need, by creating plant organ models to deliver this knowledge using relevant plant cells and tissues. We will develop plant organ models containing tunable numbers of tissue layers to study key aspects of viral tropism of main families infecting plants. We will determine how and which tissues different viruses infect and use this information to understand and predict, through computational modelling, the determinants that control viral spread in intact plants. This will allow us to understand viral infection at a single tissue resolution and assist the design of strategies to tackle viral spreading.

A key focus of this new role is to assist in the development of plant models, infect them, and collect transcription and infection data for the different viral families. The high-level objective of the research is to use this data to predict viral tropism in plants. The successful candidate will work in close collaboration with the partners of the HFSP programme, especially in the School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham. This post offers a unique opportunity to work in the fast-developing field of organ modelling and to develop skills in state-of-the-art technologies like 3D-bioprinting.

Applicants must be highly motivated and self-driven, with a PhD in Plant Biology/Plant Molecular Biology/Plant Biotechnology or related Biological Science.  It is desirable for the successful candidate to have considerable experience in some of the following areas: transcriptomics, protoplast preparation, cell biology, and image analysis.   A track record of publishing research is essential.

This full-time post (36.25 hours per week) is available from 1st September 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter, on a fixed-term contract until 31st May 2027. Job share arrangements may be considered.

Requests for secondment from internal candidates may be considered on the basis that prior agreement has been sought from both your current line manager and the manager of your substantive post, if you are already undertaking a secondment role.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Gabriel Castrillo, email gabriel.castrillo@nottingham.ac.uk.
Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

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