Postdoctoral Research Associate in AI-accelerated Microgel Design - Grade 7

We are seeking an individual with expertise in soft materials design to join our multidisciplinary team developing advanced microgel formulations for pre-clinical testing in tissue engineering and accelerating wound-healing. This role focuses on machine-learning and high-throughput methodologies to accelerate the experimental design and optimisation of these microgels. The project is part of a multinational collaboration to develop and translate microgel technology for the treatment of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (‘MRONJ’).

Microgel formulation is a complex multivariate problem, combining fundamental rules-of-thumb from Soft Matter Physics with the principles of Synthetic Chemistry and Process Engineering. This makes it ideal to be tackled using elevated-throughput experimentation in tandem with machine learning methods, e.g., Bayesian optimisation. In this project you will develop and undertake experimental workflows to formulate cytocompatible, injectable and printable microgel formulations for jawbone regeneration. You will modify simple hydrogel synthesis protocols and apply them to a range of microgel fabrication methods. Your work will emphasise material cytocompatibility and incorporation of cell-interacting moieties whose properties will be collaboratively probed with cell biology and immunology groups. High-throughput formulation and multiscale characterisation (rheology, laser-diffraction particle size analysis, confocal microscopy, computational image analysis, SAXS) methodologies will be used to generate a library of viable candidate formulations to be shipped to European partners for biological testing and to develop machine learning models that predict formulation properties.

This project would suit code-minded or code-curious scientists with a working familiarity of soft materials who want to work at the forefront of translational biomaterials. Researchers will work in a highly dynamic, multidisciplinary environment with a multitude of stakeholders and partners in various institutions (academic and industrial). The project requires a candidate with excellent transferable skills and the ability to work with a diverse range of partners.

You will work closely in a multidisciplinary team with Dr Forth, Dr Sharratt and the Project Lead, Dr Katarzyna Gurzawska-Comis, at the University of Liverpool. The position combines both research and innovation functions and involves liaison with key stakeholders within the University and with external, European academic and industrial partners. The role will be based in the School of Physical Sciences. You will have access to cutting-edge facilities at Liverpool, e.g. the Materials Innovation Factory. Liverpool is an internationally recognised institution for robotics, automation, materials, and biomedical research and leads national hubs (AIChemy, HALo). This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to significant advancements in computationally accelerated soft materials discovery with potential for significant impact and innovation in tissue engineering and biomaterials science.

This post is fixed term for 3 years commencing May 2025.

Informal enquiries to Dr. Joe Forth, email: j.forth@liverpool.ac.uk or Dr. Will Sharratt, email: w.sharratt@liverpool.ac.uk

If you are still awaiting your PhD to be awarded you will be appointed at Grade 6, spine point 30.  Upon written confirmation that you have been awarded your PhD, your salary will be increased to Grade 7, spine point 31.

Commitment to Diversity

The University of Liverpool is committed to enhancing workforce diversity. We actively seek to attract, develop, and retain colleagues with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We welcome applications from all genders/gender identities, Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, individuals living with a disability, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

For full details and to apply online, please visit: recruit.liverpool.ac.uk

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