Postdoctoral position in heart development at the University of Sheffield

We have an exciting opportunity for a talented individual with a passion for heart development and disease to use their skills to investigate the role of cardiac function in growth of the heart during development. The project will investigate how specific extracellular matrix composition and heart contractility together facilitate cell addition to the heart as it undergoes morphogenesis, using zebrafish as a model organism.

You will join the group led by Dr Emily Noël, leading the experimental work on a 3-year BBSRC-funded grant. The Noël lab is interested in understanding the mechanisms underlying cardiac development, and how defects in these processes can lead to congenital heart defects (the most common birth defect, which occur in around 1% of live births). To achieve this our team uses a combination of genetic techniques in zebrafish (for example CRISPR-mediated mutagenesis, transgenesis) and imaging approaches such as live lightsheet imaging, along quantitative analyses including 3D reconstructions of cardiac tissue and morphometric analyses.  

Applicants must have a PhD in Developmental Biology or related discipline, or equivalent experience, along with prior experience working with zebrafish embryos, with strong experimental and analytical skills including zebrafish transgenesis and/or live imaging. Previous experience with the development of quantitative image analysis approaches would also be beneficial. The ability to work independently while maintaining a strong team ethic with excellent communication skills is also essential.

You will work within the Development, Regeneration and Neurophysiology Research Cluster within the School of Biosciences, a supportive and collaborative collective of researchers using model organisms to address biomedical research questions. We have strong links with colleagues across the School, along with ties to the Medical School, access to excellent research facilities, and further development opportunities delivered by the University of Sheffield, all within one of the UK’s most liveable cities.

Interested? If you’d like to discuss further then please contact Emily at e.s.noel@sheffield.ac.uk and more info about the post including how to apply can be found via this link.