Research Fellow - Mechanobiology and Medical Device Research Group, Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering (University of Galway 101-24)

26 Mar 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

University of Galway

Research Field

Engineering » Biomedical engineering

Researcher Profile

Established Researcher (R3)

Country

Ireland

Application Deadline

10 Apr 2024 - 17:00 (Europe/London)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a full-time fixed term position as a Research Fellow with the Mechanobiology and Medical Device Research Group in Biomedical Engineering at University of Galway, Ireland.  

This position is funded by the European Research Council (ERC) and are available from 1st May 2024 to contract end date of 30th August 2025. 

Research Project information: 

Despite immense efforts to develop therapies for osteoporosis, conventional drugs that target bone loss only prevent osteoporotic fractures in half of sufferers, and the worldwide economic burden of treatment is escalating. Recently our research has provided evidence that the biological mechanisms by which bone cells normally respond to their mechanical environment are impaired. However, no existing therapeutic approach has been developed to account for these. Current understanding of bone mechanobiology and pathophysiology has been derived either using approaches that cannot fully capture, or account for both human biological and mechanical factors, and this project seeks to address this challenge. The global objective of the MEMETic project is to provide a paradigm change for studies of bone disease and therapeutics by consolidating, and significantly advancing, our novel approaches to develop advanced ex vivo models that recreate in vivo biomechanical cues in a living and multicellular 3D environment to replicate the mechanobiological function of bone.  A unique multidisciplinary approach, combining cell and molecular biology with biomechanical and mechanobiological techniques, will enable these important advances, and consolidate a world leading mechanobiology research program. 

Job Description: 

The successful candidate will contribute to the management of a substantial research project focused on developing novel ex-vivo models to mimic the co contribute to the management of mplex multicellular and mechanical in vivo environment of bone during osteoporosis. These models will be applied for studies of the role of mechanobiology in the aetiology of osteoporosis and potential therapies. This research will be conducted using the equipment, technical expertise, office and research space within the Alice Perry Engineering Building and the BioSciences Research Building (BRB) at University of Galway. The 14,000m2 Alice Perry Engineering building houses state-of-the-art Biomedical Engineering facilities including cell culture laboratories, biomechanical testing laboratories, micro-CT scanning, microscopy, research space and computer suites. The BioSciences Research Building incorporates 8,000m2 of high-end laboratory space for over 300 researchers from research groups working in the areas of cancer research, regenerative medicine and cell and molecular biology.  

Duties:  

The Research Fellow will contribute to the management of a substantial programme of research, under the supervision and direction of the Principal Investigator, to develop advanced ex-vivo multicellular models to study osteoporosis and to inform therapeutic approaches. The successful applicant will be required to: 

 

• Support the Principal Investigator and research group in the development, management and administration of the research programme 

• Contribute and support the development of research grant funding applications. 

• Develop and implement quality assurance measures. 

• Provide leadership for research graduate students and researchers, as requested, to include mentoring, training, work coordination, expert and day-to-day advice and support of associated with the research group. This will include organising meetings to develop work plans/timetables and communicate progress. 

• Participate in the recruitment of staff. 

• Publish research in high quality peer review manuscripts and present at international conferences and meetings 

• Conduct in vitro and ex-vivo cell culture studies using bioreactors; 

• Biochemical assays and RT-PCR to quantify gene and protein expression;  

• Tissue dissection, histology and immunohistochemistry 

• Analyse data in an accurate and precise manner 

• Any other duties assigned commensurate to this level of post 

Qualifications/Skills required:  

Essential Requirements:  

Candidates MUST: 

• Hold a doctoral degree in a relevant discipline (Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Science or a related field) plus 4 years full-time postdoctoral research experience 

• Have a proven track record in a research environment  

• Possess excellent communication and organizational skills and attention to detail 

• Proven independent initiative and ability to work in a collaborative environment  

• Proven experience of mentoring graduate research students  

• Be highly motivated and passionate about advancing biomedical engineering research 

• Possess sufficient breadth or depth of specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research methodologies and act in a supporting leadership role. 

• Demonstrate an understanding of the policy, practices and procedures, relevant to the role, and provide advice to junior colleagues on these (e.g. Research Ethics, Procurement, Knowledge Transfer, Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities & Diversity). 

• Know the legal requirements regarding data protection and confidentiality data protection requirements 

• Have a track-record of applying for external funding. 

It is ESSENTIAL that applicants have experience in the below techniques: 

• Experience of biomaterial-based approaches for tissue regeneration  

• Experience of Epifluorescent and Confocal microscopy 

• Experience of cell biology techniques (e.g. tissue histology, immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry) 

• Experience of Tissue dissection and histology 

Desirable Requirements:  

As well as the above essential skills, it is DESIRABLE that applicants have expertise in as many of the following areas as possible: 

• Experience of molecular biology techniques (e.g. western blotting, RT-PCR) 

• Experience of using bioreactors and parallel plate flow chambers  

• Biomechanical testing and micro-CT scanning 

Salary: Research Fellow scale €61,318 - €80,048 per annum (subject to the project’s funding limitations), and pro rata for shorter and/or part-time contracts.  

The default position for all new public sector appointments is the 1st point of the salary scale. This may be reviewed, and consideration afforded to appointment at a higher point on the payscale (subject to the project’s funding limitations), where evidence of prior years’ equivalent experience is accepted in determining placement on the scale above point 1, subject to the maximum of the scale. 

(Research Salary Scales - University of Galway)  

Start date: Position is available from 1st May 2024 

Continuing Professional Development/Training: 

Researchers at University of Galway are encouraged to avail of a range of training and development opportunities designed to support their personal career development plans. University of Galway provides continuing professional development supports for all researchers seeking to build their own career pathways either within or beyond academia.  Researchers are encouraged to engage with our Researcher Development Centre (RDC) upon commencing employment - see HERE  for further information. 

Further information on research and working at University of Galway is available on Research at University of Galway  

For information on moving to Ireland please see www.euraxess.ie   

Further information about the Mechanobiology and Medical Devices Research Group is available at www.mechanobiology.ie . Informal enquiries concerning the post may be made to Professor Laoise McNamara, [email protected]  

To Apply: 

Applications to include a covering letter, CV, and the contact details of three referees should be sent, via e-mail (in word or PDF only) to [email protected]  

Please put reference number University of Galway 101-24 in subject line of e-mail application. 

Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00 pm (Irish Time) 10th April 2024. 

We reserve the right to re-advertise or extend the closing date for this post. 

University of Galway is an equal opportunities employer. 

All positions are recruited in line with Open, Transparent, Merit (OTM) and Competency based recruitment  

Requirements

Research Field

Engineering » Biomedical engineering

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

University of Galway

Country

Ireland

Geofield

Where to apply

E-mail

[email protected]

Contact

State/Province

Ireland

City

Galway

Website

https://www.universityofgalway.ie/

Street

University Road

Postal Code

H91 TK33

E-Mail

[email protected]

STATUS: EXPIRED