Postdoctoral Research Associate

Job description

A postdoctoral research associate position is available in the Knight group to work on a Leverhulme Trust funded project to understand how ageing affects muscle stem cell function. Candidates should have a strong background in zebrafish genetics, molecular biology and imaging and be able to apply an analytical and modelling approach to understand how ageing alters muscle stem responses to injury.  

Using live cell imaging, single cell gene expression analysis and mathematical modelling the project aims to identify age-related cues that regulate how muscle stem cells respond to injury. This will be achieved by identifying genes showing age-related changes in muscle stem cells of zebrafish genetic models of ageing. Candidate ageing-associated genes will then be evaluated for their role in regulating muscle stem cell behaviour during regeneration by gene manipulation and imaging of cell behaviour by multiphoton and light-sheet microscopy.  

The Knight group utilise live cell imaging and molecular profiling to define the key regulators of muscle homeostasis and repair in the context of disease and ageing. A major focus of the group is to combine descriptors of cell behaviour with molecular readouts for establishing mathematical models of tissue regeneration. The project is a collabortion with Dr. Ann Babtie at Imperial College London and Professor Ivo Sbalzarini at TU Dresden, Germany. 

The Knight group is based in the Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology at Guy’s Hospital. The Centre combines strengths in tissue engineering and use of animal models for understanding human disease and regeneration. The post holder will be integrated into a welcoming and friendly environment with strong links to other departments at the Guy’s campus.   

The post holder will need to have had experience of working with zebrafish, performing live cell imaging and analysing gene function. Ideally they will also have experience of using computer languages to analyse gene expression datasets and imaging data.    

This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract for 3 years 

This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent

Key responsibilities

• Perform experiments at the direction of the line manager and at their own initiative to advance the goals of the project  
• record all results and data generated to an agreed standard, store all data as directed and make them available to the line manager  
• take responsibility of and proactively manage zebrafish lines as agreed with the line manager in compliance with all local and national regulations and rules. 
• contribute to the production of research reports, publications and communications as requested and contribute to group meetings  
• work in a timely and organised fashion to complete pieces of work, produce reports or analyses when requested and contribute to meetings to a required standard  
• work to an appropriate level of health and safety and perform such jobs as required for effective running of the laboratory 
• engage in training and development of new skills as required for delivery of project objectives 
• work with team members and collaborators to share results and expertise as directed by the line manager 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.  

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria 

1.       PhD awarded in a relevant subject (or thesis submitted) 

2.       Experience of using zebrafish as an experimental animal 

3.       Experience of molecular cloning and gene manipulation  

4.       Experience of gene expression analysis by a variety of methods  

5.       Experienced user of confocal and light microscopy 

6.       Excellent practical laboratory skills 

7.       Excellent computing skills and data management experience 

8.       Rigorous and critical approach to data acquisition and recording 

9.       Competent and experienced in performing statistical analysis 

10.   Friendly, helpful and flexible attitude to team working 

Desirable criteria 

1.       Experience of flow cytometry and cell sorting 

2.       Experience of using computing languages for imaging data and gene expression analysis such as R or Python 

3.       An active interest in the field of ageing research 

Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Further information

Applications from overseas based applicants are welcome but there are no funds for any necessary visa or relocation costs involved.