Research Fellow – Biomedical Devices

About us

The UCL Centre for Biomaterials in Surgical Reconstruction and Regeneration, led by Professor Song, collaborates with scientists, clinicians and industry partners to develop biomedical and engineering innovation. These include 3D models of soft and hard tissue, targeted cell and gene therapy delivery systems, and nanotechnology-based devices, such as hyperplastic nanofiber-guided human iPSC-derived muscle and neuromuscular junction models, piezoelectric nanofiber acoustic devices, and wearable/implantable biosensors.

Further information about the Centre can be found here.

About the role

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral research fellow to join the Song laboratory (https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/40048 ) at UCL Centre of Biomaterials for Surgical Reconstruction and Regeneration.

This is a new exciting role funded by a multi-center 5-year MRC and MNDA programme grant to discern the effects of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/Fronto-temporal dementia (FTD) mutations on human neuron intrinsic and synaptic properties as well as neural network function.

The successful candidate will design and fabricate neuromuscular junction model devices, and work together with multi-disciplinary teams to tackle the mechanism of ALS/FTD neurodegenerative diseases.

This role is for a qualified and experienced scientist/engineer who has been working in an academic or commercial research laboratory/company related to biomedical devices for muscle/neuron sensing, neuromuscular junction, neuron/muscle tissue/disease modelling and drug discovery. We design and fabricate synthetic scaffolds, biosensors and integrate with a human iPSC-based neuromuscular co-culture system and apply this system to investigate the cause of human ALS/FTD conditions, and lead to novel therapeutic targets.

The post holder will contribute to the plan to deliver technical innovation and lead specified work packages of developing human iPSC-based neuromuscular junction model systems and ALS/FTD disease models in collaboration with other teams at UCL and KCL. To ensure successful development of the cellular model device and facilitate multidisciplinary collaborators to progress towards understanding the cause of ALS/FTD conditions, the candidate requires a strong background/knowledge of design, fabrication and integration of polymeric nanofiber-based devices, muscle/neuronal cell-culture devices and muscle/neuron detectors. Experience in polymer synthesis and process, electrospinning technique, neuron/muscle tissue engineering, cell culture and characterization is also desirable. In addition, they also require excellent interpersonal skills to work within and across diverse and interdisciplinary teams.

Appointment Details:

• This post is graded at grade 7, the annual salary for which ranges from £43,374 to £48,007 (including London Allowance).
• This is a fixed-term post for 24 months in the first instance

About you

The post holder will have the following:

• The post holder must have a PhD degree in polymer science and engineering, chemistry, biomaterials, tissue engineering, bioengineering, chemical engineering, neuron cell/muscle culture devices, high throughput medical sensors/devices or in a relevant discipline or equivalent professional experience.
• Expertise in design, fabrication and integration of electrospun-nanofibre-based devices, tissue/disease model devices, point-of-care medical devices, organ-on-a-chips, neuronal cell multi-electrode array devices, conducting polymer-based sensors and devices.
• Experience in polymer synthesis and process, fabrication of multi-electrode array devices and electrospinning technique is also desirable.
• The successful holder must have scientific rigor and excellent analytical and synthetic capabilities with proven ability and commitment to carry out high quality original research.
• Experience in muscle/neuron tissue engineering, neurodegenerative disease modelling, and cell culture and characterization would be an advantage.

Customer advert reference: B02-08630

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