Job type: Postdoc

Location: Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, Guy's Campus, King's College London

Closing Date: 30 June 2021

We are looking for a motivated and talented postdoctoral researcher to join our team at King’s College London (Twitter: @zfm31) and the UCL Ear Institute (@AnwenBullen & @AuditoryNerves) to work on a new BBSRC-funded interdisciplinary project. 

The research will combine live cell imaging, super resolution microscopy, volume electron microscopy and cellular biochemistry to study the role of metabolism in cell fate decisions in the developing auditory system.

The project aims to investigate: changes of mitochondrial ultrastructure and physiology in developing sensory hair cells; how metabolic pathways drive specification of the sensory cells and the causal relationship between developmental signalling and metabolism in developing auditory epithelia.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about interdisciplinary research and will have an outstanding academic record and PhD in a relevant field (Developmental Cell Biology/Cell Physiology). They should have an interest in developing novel imaging techniques to probe cell metabolism in living cells and in using these to understand the basic cell biology underlying the development and regeneration of sensory cells.

You are encouraged to contact Dr Zoe Mann (zoe.mann@kcl.ac.uk) for further information about the project.

• Planning and designing experiments, with attention to appropriate controls, statistical power and feasibility to yield robust data
• In ovo electroporation of otic tissue in chick embryos
• Dissection and establishment of primary explant cultures of inner ear sensory epithelia
• Histological analysis of inner ear tissue by a range of techniques including immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, RNA-scope, Western blot, qRT-PCR and PCR
• Analysis of mitochondrial ultrastructure using super resolution imaging and electron microscopy
• Analysis of cell metabolism in living cochlear explants using Fluorescence lifetime microscopy (FLIM)
• Presenting results at scientific meetings
• Writing research manuscripts and publishing in high impact journals
• Supervising and training research students

Salary: £38,304 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance

Closing Date: 30 June 2021

Scientific fields: Cell biology, Cell fate control and differentiation, Development and disease, Metabolism and physiology, Signalling, Neural development, Regeneration

Model systems: Chick, Mouse

Duration: Fixed term

Minimum qualifications: PhD awarded or near completion in an appropriate discipline (Developmental Cell Biology/Cell Biology/Cell Physiology).