Postdoctoral Research Associate in Single-Molecule Biophysics

Job id: 088487. Salary: £43,205 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

Posted: 25 April 2024. Closing date: 26 May 2024.

Business unit: Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sci. Department: Physics.

Contact details:Rafael Tapia-Rojo. [email protected]

Location: Strand Campus. Category: Research.

Situated at our Strand Campus in central London, the Department of Physics has a reputation as a friendly and supportive environment.

Teaching is provided by academic staff with internationally leading reputations in the areas of current excitement in physics, including Professor Anatoly Zayats, an expert in the field of plasmonics, and Professor John Ellis CBE FRS, a leading figure at CERN and an expert in theorised supersymmetric particles.

Today, physicists at King's are developing new ways to study the molecular processes in biological cells which cause cancer and other diseases, working to understand how the focus between the individual atoms and molecules on the nanoscale shape our macroscopic world, and continuing Maxwell's work in the unification of physics.

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position to work on single molecule biophysics in the Department of Physics at King’s College London. This post is an ERC-awarded project funded by the UKRI Horizon Europe guarantee.

In this role, you will develop and employ novel force spectroscopy instrumentation to measure the force-dependent dynamics and interactions of focal adhesion proteins. Specifically, your research will focus on studying, from a single-molecule perspective, how post-translational modifications finely tune the activity of force-sensing proteins, such as talin, FAK, or tensin.

This is a full time (35 hours per week), and you will be offered an a fixed term contract until around June 2026 (depending on start date).

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1.      Hold, or be near completion of, a PhD in Physics, Biophysics, Chemistry, Biochemistry or equivalent

2.      Demonstrate excellent quantitative skills

3.      Have hands-on experience in protein biophysics/biochemistry

4.      Exhibit a strong ability to collaborate effectively within a team while also displaying initiative and independent problem-solving skills

5.      Have excellent writing and communication skills

Desirable criteria

1.      Show experience in single molecule techniques (AFM, optical tweezers, magnetic tweezers, FRET,)

2.      Demonstrate programming skills

3.      Possess experience in instrument development

4.      Have experience in Molecular Dynamics simulations

Full details of the role and the skills and experience required, can be found in the attached job description which provided on the next page.

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers review your application, please take a look at our ‘ How we Recruit ’ pages.

This role does meet the requirements of the Home Office and therefore we are  able to offer sponsorship for candidates who require the right to work in the UK.