Research Fellow

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £35,880 to £45,163 with potential progression once in post to £47,874

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to January 2028

Background

We are seeking to recruit an outstanding Research Fellow with a background in mathematical biology, bioinformatics, machine learning, biophysics, or related fields to join our dynamic and highly interdisciplinary UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship project ‘Systems-Mechanobiology of Health and Disease’, led by Professor Fabian Spill. This seven-year project offers a unique opportunity to make meaningful contributions to understanding and combatting age-related diseases.

The goal of this highly collaborative project is to develop innovative, data-driven systems-biology models to explore how mechanical forces, cell shape, and the spatio-temporal organisation of molecules influence cell behaviour. Specifically, we aim to uncover how the mechanical and geometric properties of cells and tissues change during ageing, and how these changes drive the emergence of age-related diseases. By combining mathematical modelling, machine learning, and experimental insights, we will work closely with leading researchers including Profs. Emad Moeendarbary (UCL), Shuo Wang (Birmingham), Claudio Mauro (Birmingham), Tamal Das (Tata Institute), Vijay Rajagopal (Melbourne), Elena Pontarini (QMUL), Jean-Baptiste Cazier (Crick), and more, as well as with industry partners such as AstraZeneca and several SMEs.

Role Summary

• Initiate and conduct original research which has measurable impact on biomedical problems for ageing and age-related diseases
• Plan, design and co-ordinate research activities and programmes together with research team involved in the Future Leaders Fellowship and the wider collaborative network
• Publish results of collaborative research together with the research team 
• Supervise PhD and master students if applicable
• Contribute to writing bids 
• Contribute to generating funding 

Person Specification

• First degree in area of specialism and normally, a higher degree relevant to research area or equivalent qualifications
• High level analytical capability
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones
• Research experience in academia or industry in mathematical modelling, data science, statistics, machine learning or related areas, evidenced through excellent publications or through relevant industry or societal impact
• Excellent communication skills 
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively 
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly

Informal enquiries can be made to Fabian Spill, email: f.spill@bham.ac.uk or Olga Maleva, email: O.Maleva@bham.ac.uk.

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.

Closes: 05/01/2025

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