PDRA, UCL, London

Early-stage embryo as an active self-tuning soft material

We seek to hire four postdoctoral research associates (PDRAs) to work on an interdisciplinary collaborative project between the University of Dundee, the University of Oxford, and UCL. The aim of the project is to understand the interplay between tissue-scale mechanical forces, cell differentiation, and cell behaviours during gastrulation.

Gastrulation arises from a combination of distinct cellular-scale force-generating behaviours that take place in different parts of the embryo. These behaviours are likely coordinated by mechanosensitive processes, although their exact nature is poorly understood. How cell-scale behaviours and mechano-chemical feedback processes combine to give rise to the tissue-scale morphogenesis observed during gastrulation remains unknown. We will investigate these questions in the chick embryo, using a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches.

The project is a collaboration between the University of Dundee, University of Oxford, and University College London in research groups of Prof Cornelis J. Weijer (Dundee), Prof. Julia Yeomans (Oxford), Dr Rastko Sknepnek (Dundee), and Prof Guillaume Charras (UCL).

PDRA 4 will be based at the UCL in the group of Prof Charras. They will characterise mechanics and feedback in developing tissues. Informal enquiries should be sent to Prof Guillaume Charras (g.charras@ucl.ac.uk).

Application deadline: 15/02/2022.

Preferred starting date: 1 April 2022 (or soon after)

Duration: Up to 36 months (until 31 March 2025)