Research Associate

King’s College London has one of the UK’s best Physics Departments  with the QS World University Rankings placing us in the top 10 universities in the country.

Our research-intensive department houses internationally renowned scientists working across diverse and interdisciplinary fields, including biological physics and soft matter, photonics and nanotechnology, the theory and simulation of condensed matter, theoretical particle physics and cosmology; and experimental particle and astroparticle physics.

We are seeking to appoint a biophysicist or a cell/molecular biologist (preferably with a PhD in Physics, Cell/Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Bioengineering or related disciplines) with proved experience in any area of mechanobiology.

This project aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which extracellular mechanical forces travel long distances inside the cell to reach the nucleus on biologically-relevant timescales, and how mechanical forces activate force-induced transcriptional programmes. The project can be attacked from different perspectives (single molecule, single cell, or tissue level) but in all cases requires extensive experience in the relevant mechanical techniques, according to each relevant length-scale. The project is funded by the Wellcome Trust. The project will be developed between the Francis Crick Institute and the Department of Physics at King’s College London.

Within King’s, you will be part of the department of Physics, which belongs to the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences (NMES). Supporting our staff is important to us and we offer a range of provision including flexible working, caring support, and training opportunities. The university is making significant investment in the Faculty and both student and staff numbers are growing. Our staff come from over 45 countries and around 56% of our students are from outside the UK.

Further details are available at www.kcl.ac.uk/nms

Further information may be found at: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/physics 

• Develop high quality research in the field of mechanobiology   
• Contribute to publications arising from this project
• Contribute fully to developing and enhancing the research profile of the Department, Faculty, and University, including establishing a track record of high-quality publications
• Use new research techniques and methods
• Identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio

This is a full time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed-term contract from 01/08/2024 (subject to lab refurbishment completion) until 02/11/2025.

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

Essential criteria

1.       Hold a PhD in Biophysics, Physical Chemistry, Cell/Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering or equivalent

2.       Extensive demonstrable experience with mechanobiology, although we are open to different length-scales (molecular, cellular, tissue) and with the mastering of the relevant related techniques. 

3.       Programming skills/quantitative approaches 

4.       Experience in student supervision, grant writing and project design 

5.       Experience with light microscopy (confocal/spinning disk/superresolution) microscopy

Desirable criteria

1.       Experience in protein design, cloning, expression and purification

2.       Experience in Cell Biology (Cell culture, transfections, CRISPR, etc.)

3.       Experience with single molecule mechanics (AFM, magnetic tweezers, optical tweezers)

4.       Experience with cell mechanics (AFM, Cell Magnetic tweezers, cyclic stretching, microfluidics, etc) experiments  

5.       Experience in Mass spectrometry characterization of proteins 

* 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.

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.

Benefits of working at King’s College London. KCL provides an extensive and varied range of career-focussed training and on-the-job learning as follows:

• We support staff to maintain a work/life balance
• Flexible working, parental leave opportunities, and subsidised childcare costs.
• Reduced membership rates for staff at gyms at three of our campuses
• Employee Assistance Programme provides free, confidential advice on both home and work concerns
• 30 days annual leave (plus UK bank holidays and four additional concessionary closure days over Christmas)
• Occupational pension scheme with generous employer contributions, and opt-in additional personal contributions
• Season ticket loans and  cycle-to-work scheme
• Membership of My King’s Discounts offering preferential rates to a wide range of groceries, holidays, entertainment, home, health, beauty and fashion

Full information on staff benefits:  Staff Benefits - King's College London (kcl.ac.uk)

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet each 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.