Post-doctoral position at the Crick, London

We are looking for a postdoctoral fellow to join our lab. The position is offered for 4 years but can be extended for further 2 years (6 years in total). The suitable candidate will combine interdisciplinary approaches with excellent tractability of zebrafish heart to study a fundamental problem – how organ form and function emerge during development. They will use advanced microscopic techniques, image analysis, genetic manipulations, biophysical approaches and collaborate with theoreticians to address this question. The successful candidate should be keen in pursuing collaborative research and should be a good team player.

The overarching goal of our lab is to study how functional organs are built to sustain life during embryonic development. To solve this fundamental problem, we take a systems biology approach by integrating excellent tractability zebrafish heart with tools from tissue mechanics, developmental genetics, transcriptomics, biophysics and predictive theoretical modelling. Using these approaches, we aim to dissect the morphogenesis of a complex organ like heart, across scales and in the physiological context of a developing embryo. Some of the fundamental questions we seek to address are:

1) How cell mechanics, shape, and polarity regulate its fate choices during heart development?

2) How tissue geometry spatially constrains proliferation and delamination – by dissecting the role of extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling, fluid mechanics and mechanochemical pathways (feedback between Yap/Taz, ERK and Notch signalling).

3) How 3D topological trabecular meshwork is shaped and constrained during development and how it supports heart function?

4) Why and how atrium morphogenesis is differently regulated from ventricle – by dissecting the underlying cell mechanics, differential ECM regulation, fluid dynamics and genetic pathways.

The suitable candidate will address one of these questions. The specific details and aims of the project will be driven by the candidate’s interest and training. Candidates with a strong background in advanced imaging approaches, image analysis techniques, tissue morphogenesis/mechanics are encouraged to apply.

We have access to state-of-the-art facilities and technology platforms including Advanced light microscopy, High throughput sequencing, Bioinformatics and Image analysis help desk. The Francis Crick is a modern, world class biomedical research institute in central London. The Crick runs an exceptional postdoc training program, designed to prepare the postdocs for their future career with many trainings and career development opportunities.

For further details about the project and how to apply, use this link

https://www.crick.ac.uk/careers-study/vacancies/2024-07-01-postdoctoral-fellow

or simply get in touch – rashmi.priya@crick.ac.uk.