Post Doctoral Research Associate

Closing Date: Midnight on 1st December 2024

Weekly Working Hours:  37

Fixed Term Contract: End Date: 4 months from start date

Welsh Language Standard: Not Applicable

About the Role

The role will require regular attendance on site in Milton Keynes.

The role holder will perform research into lab-growth of tissue and meat and carry out biophysical simulations of the resulting tissue. 

The project will involve the growth of cultured tissue in the laboratory and performing confocal microscopy on those tissues to establish the organisation of cells and create a data set for validating biophysical models. This will be used to validate our state-of-the-art techniques to predict the arrangements of cells in biological tissues, building on the CONDOR simulation technique (Hague, J. P. et al. Physical Review Research, 2, 043217, 2020).

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain cell cultures and perform imaging studies and analysis on these cultures
• To run and analyse CONDOR simulations on our high-performance computing cluster.
• To undertake training to run CONDOR simulations, in biophysics and / or to carry out cultured tissue growth as required.
• To contribute to writing papers and give presentations (at e.g. conferences and at the OU) as required.
• To contribute to the lively academic environment in the School of Physical Sciences.

Skills and Experience

Essential Criteria

• A PhD in physics, biology, applied mathematics, computing or a closely related field (PhD candidates who have submitted or are about to submit their thesis will be considered).
• Ability to communicate research results effectively.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Can demonstrate being a good team worker and able to work under own initiative.
• Experience with at least one of physics simulation, microscopy and / or wet biology.
• A willingness to work on biological systems and to run simulations, and a commitment to undertake training in these areas if required.
• Ability to plan and organise own work.

Desirable Criteria

• Familiarity with the Linux operating system.
• Experience in more than one of the areas of physics simulation, microscopy and / or wet biology.
• A record of peer-reviewed publications and/or conference submissions commensurate with career stage.

To apply for this role please submit a CV and a Supporting Statement, of up to 1,000 words. You should set out in your statement why you’re interested in this role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the required competencies for this role as detailed in the above essential and desirable criteria.

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