Research Fellow in Computational Biology

Location: Leeds - Main Campus

Contract type: Fixed Term (36 months – to complete time limited work)

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have an established background in Computational Biology? Do you want to further your career in one of the UKs leading research intensive Universities?

Calcium is a key mediator in translating electrical triggers into mechanical action in muscle, a process known as excitation-contraction coupling, ECC. Calcium also serves as an important secondary messenger in cardiomyocytes (like in other cells), relating messages about stress, energy demands, resource allocation, transcription dynamics. For reliable rhythmic activity and ECC, cardiomyocytes have evolved a specialized internal compartment serving as the main calcium storage, the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), which is dynamically emptied and refilled on each heartbeat. However, ther are many non-SR organelles traditionally engaged in calcium signaling, operating at a wide range of time scales, include the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), mitochondria, lysosomes, peroxisomes, late endosomes, and the nucleus, among others. The role these play in ECC and its dysfunction remain to be elucidated. 

This project involves an international and interdisciplinary team of experts, that will apply optogenetic techniques to experimentally characterise the spatail relationships  between these organelles and integrate these data with computational modelling. This post specifically focuses on the computational modelling aspects of this project, in the development of novel models of spatial calcium handling that integrates super-resolution structure-function relationships in multiple organelles. On this project, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with researchers in USA and Japan. 

Please note: If you are not a British or Irish citizen, you will require permission to work in the UK. This will normally be in the form of a visa but, if you are an EEA/Swiss citizen, this may be your status under the EU Settlement Scheme.  

Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information, please visit www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

For research and academic posts, we will consider eligibility under the Global Talent visa. For more information, please visit www.gov.uk/global-talent

What we offer in return

• 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme plus life assurance– the University contributes 14.5% of salary
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

And much more!  

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact: 

Dr. Michael Colman, Associate Professor in Systems Physiology

Email: M.A.Colman@leeds.ac.uk

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