Postdoctoral Research Fellow

This new full-time post is available from 2^nd June 2025 on a fixed term contract until 31^st May 2028.

The post

Dr Kyle Wedgwood is seeking to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (PDRF) for a duration of 3 years starting 2/6/2025 as part of the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship: “Using Mathematics to Disentangle the Role of Synaptic Communication.” This interdisciplinary fellowship aims to develop new technology and algorithms to modulate synaptic interactions in neuronal network cultures. These tools will be used to shed new light on how electrical rhythms are generated in neuronal networks. These rhythms are fundamental to neurocomputational processes such as working memory, in which information is stored as a temporally ordered sequence of electrical activity. Improved understanding of how synaptic properties, such as axonal propagation delays and connectivity maps between neurons, shape electrical rhythms will thus provide insights into fundamental neuronal computations.

The primary role of the post-holder will be able to design, conduct, and analyse results arising from closed-loop MEA experiments on cultured neuronal networks. These experiments will combine high density MEA chips and novel optogenetic tools to record and stimulate electrical activity at the single cell resolution within the networks. These techniques will be combined with mathematical models (to be developed by another team member) to enable perturbative experiments in the cultured networks to identify the roles of different attributes of synaptic communication.

The successful applicant will work in an interdisciplinary team comprising: Dr Wedgwood; a PDRF developing mathematical models of the neuronal networks; Research Software Engineers developing algorithms for innovative experiments linking the mathematical models to the biological neurons; a research technician who will support neuronal culture and genetic manipulation; and the applicant themselves. The successful applicant will join a vibrant research community within the university’s flagship research centre: The Living Systems Institute, which is home to 26 research groups applying a range of interdisciplinary techniques to address fundamental questions across the biosciences.

About you

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study, such as, neuroscience or physiology and pharmacology. The successful applicant will be able to develop and perform experimental and data analysis protocols for in vitro (MEA-based) electrophysiology experiments, as well as give presentations at conferences and other events. They will have expertise in conducting electrophysiology experiments, including use of associated data acquisition software, and will have expertise in methodology to analyse data arising from these experiments, such as, spike sorting and statistical modelling.

Applicants will be able to work effectively in an interdisciplinary team comprising mathematical modellers, software engineers, and research technicians. As such, the successful applicant will have excellent verbal and written communication skills and should be comfortable working in environments with people from different backgrounds. In particular, the successful applicant will need to present information on research progress and outcomes, as well as having the ability to communicate both verbally and in writing complex information, to a range of stakeholders. Additionally, the successful candidate will have a demonstrable ability to write up scientific findings in a timely and succinct way for publication.

For further information please contact Dr Kyle Wedgwood, e-mail k.c.a.wedgwood@exeter.ac.uk. 

Advert information