Pre-call for a Post-doctoral fellowship for mechanotaxis in 3D studies

Position is opened to Post doc biologists, engineer or physicists motivated by interdisciplinary work

Degree: Applicants should hold a minimum upper-second honours degree (or equivalent) in Engineering (e.g. material or electrical engineering), Physics, Chemistry, Cell Biology or a related discipline. They should have demonstrated the ability to work effectively in the laboratory.

Role on the project: The aim of this project is to investigate the respective roles and functioning of mechanotaxis in 3D environments studying the effect on glioma behaviour. Our approach is based on biophysical in vitro investigations using microfluidics and optical micropatterning techniques to control the cell microenvironments. In terms of the research activities, the candidate will be responsible for cultivation of spheroids of glioma, GSCs, development of cell culture assays involving immunofluorescence, studying cell lines expressing a variety of cellular molecules predicted to play a role in mechanotaxis. Practical work on this project will range from fabrication of 3D scaffolds of different materials to analyzing the mechanotactic behaviour of cells. He/She will perform in vitro validation of mechanotaxis and will perform analysis, timelapse, confocal imaging and co-localizing the signal with a cellular surface marker and immunostaining. He/She will also study pathway signalling and focal adhesions (FAKs) in response to mechanical cues. The candidate will also benefit from training in cell biology and materials analysis and fabrication, gaining specific knowledge in the study of soft matter. Necessary training will be provided. The candidate is expected to have practical lab experience with cell culture and also a facility with computational methods. He or she must have significant experience of pathway signalling, calcium signalling and imaging. They will also be required to have excellent molecular biology and live cell microscopy skills. The ability to work independently and as part of a team, excellent communication, organisational and problem solving skills are essential.

Technical skills: Experience in preclinical in vivo experimental models; standard histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. Experience in biochemistry, molecular biology and biotechnology would be necessary. A robust track record of publication and innovation is advised.