Research Assistant

About us

UCL is one of the world's leading research universities, renowned for its innovative and impactful research. Rated second in the UK for 'Research Strength' in REF2021, UCL's Department of Biochemical Engineering (UCLBE) is the largest academic bioprocessing group globally. Our mission is to educate future leaders and drive research innovation to solve global health, food security, and climate change challenges, improving quality of life through our outstanding biochemical engineering programs. Our research focuses on advanced biomanufacturing technologies critical to various bioindustry sectors, from biological medicines (proteins, cell and gene therapies, vaccines) to green industrial biotechnology (circular bioeconomy, biorefining, cultured meat). We are proud of our state-of-the-art facilities and strategic partnerships with leading academic institutions and industry consortia, which ensure our leadership in the field and foster contin uous innovation and collaboration. UCL Biochemical Engineering is seeking to appoint a Research Assistant on a fixed-term of 12 months to be part of the growing UCL Cellular Agriculture Research Group led by Dr Petra Hanga (https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/84339-petra-hanga).

About the role

This project is funded by the UCL Grand Challenges Climate Crisis fund. The project aims to explore an interdisciplinary approach involving engineering, stem cell biology and biomaterials to develop an efficient manufacturing process for cultivated meat. The project will explore edible materials including hydrogels, will generate fibre-like scaffolds which will then be loaded and tested with bovine muscle stem cells in scalable bioreactor cultures. This collaborative project will complement the existing activity within our Cellular Agriculture Research Group at UCL Biochemical Engineering including the programme of work of the Cellular Agriculture Manufacture Hub (CARMA) and Bezos Eart h Fund Centre for Sustainable Proteins.

About you

The successful applicant will have an undergraduate or a Masters degree in a relevant subject (e.g. biochemical engineering, bioprocessing, regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, biology, molecular biology etc). Experience of aseptic mammalian cell culture and experience of working with hydrogels is highly desirable. Demonstrated experience of working within a laboratory environment, proven ability of strong academic writing, and excellent organisation, planning and time management skills are essential. The ability to problem-solve both independently and by proactively seeking the advice of others, and to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences, are also essential. Good communication skills and ability to work collaboratively as part of a team are essential.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/rewa rds-and-benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. Our department holds an Athena Swan Gold award in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality. You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/

Customer advert reference: B04-05940

Advert information