Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Biophysics/Developmental Biology Interface

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral research associate to participate in a highly interdisciplinary research project aiming to advance our understanding of gastrulation, an essential stage of embryonic development. Specific goals are to characterise and understand the interplay between cell and tissue-scale mechanical forces, cell differentiation, and cell behaviours during gastrulation, using the chick model system. The project is a highly interdisciplinary collaboration between the Universities of Dundee, Oxford and University College London, at the life science-physics interface and involves a combination of in-vitro and in-vivo experiments and cell and tissue-scale modelling.

Role Responsibilities

• Optimise and apply advanced live imaging methods to characterise and quantify critical in-vivo cell behaviours that drive tissue flows and deformations during gastrulation in early chick embryos.
• Develop methods to perform physical perturbations of early embryonic development and measure stresses. while analysing effects on cell and tissue behaviours.
• Optimise and apply large scale image data analysis using computational data analysis methods
• Communicate in-vivo results and exchange ideas and insights with project partners working on with in-vitro biophysical experiments on chick tissue isolates (Guillaume Charras, UCL), cell-based biophysical modelling (Rastko Sknepnek, Dundee) and tissue scale modelling (Julia Yeomans, Oxford).

Skills, knowledge and experience

• Either for a highly motivated Physicist with experience in theory and methods of biophysics and a keen interest in development and morphogenesis.
• Or alternatively a Biologist with experience in theory and methods of molecular cell and developmental biology and a keen interest in biophysics.
• An excellent ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary research environment at the life science physics interface.
• High levels of creativity, dedication and excellent troubleshooting abilities.

Requirements

From a Physicist/Biophysicist we expect strong mathematical and computational skills, (good coding ability in preferentially in Matlab/Python and C/C++), while an interest and or experience in optics/ imaging (Lightsheet microscopy, multiphoton microscopy), instrument development and basic biology lab experience will be advantageous.

From a Biologist we expect strong in theory and practical skills in molecular cell and developmental biology and live imaging (preferentially lightsheet microscopy, single and multiphoton microscopy), while experience in computational image data analysis and coding skills in Matlab/Python will be advantageous.

The postdoctoral research position requires a recently successfully completed PhD. An appointment may be considered if you are shortly expected to be awarded a PhD. In this case, the initial appointment would be made as a Research Assistant on the Training Grade 7 salary scale.

For further information about this position please contact Prof. Cornelis J Weijer at c.j.weijer@dundee.ac.uk.