Project Research Scientist at the Francis Crick Institute

We are seeking an experienced Project Research Scientist to join our team.  This is a full-time, fixed term (two years) position.

https://www.crick.ac.uk/careers-study/vacancies/2025-05-15-postdoctoral-project-research-scientist

In this role, you will both lead your independent project(s) and contribute to the development of innovative tools and technologies that advance the lab’s research program. You will be part of a collaborative and diverse group dedicated to uncovering how a functional, beating heart is formed during development. Your work will involve applying in-depth technical expertise in cutting-edge imaging technologies, image analysis techniques, and biophysical approaches. The specific goals and direction of the project(s) will be shaped in close consultation with the supervisor and tailored to your background and interests.

The heart is the first organ to form and function during embryonic development. A key step during vertebrate heart development is chamber maturation – a poorly-understood morphogenetic process critical for heart function. During this process, the myocardial wall of the ventricle and atrium transforms from a single-layered epithelium into a complex 3D topological meshwork architecture (Priya et al., 2021, Nature; bioRxiv 2024.07.24.604962; bioRxiv, 2025.03. 07.641942). How this topological complexity is achieved is unknown, as are the underlying mechanisms that shape these crucial anatomical structures. In our lab, we aim to unravel the underlying mechanical, molecular and geometric interactions that transform a developing heart from a simple epithelium into a highly intricate functional organ. We combine the excellent tractability of zebrafish embryos with quantitative imaging, transcriptomics, biophysics, genetics, and predictive theoretical modelling to answer fundamental questions driving organ morphogenesis.

What you will be doing:

• Develop and establish new tools and techniques –  advanced 4D live imaging of zebrafish hearts, image analysis pipelines, biophysical methods for measuring mechanical forces, and gene-editing tools.
• Conceptualize and lead research project(s)
• Provide expert guidance and technical support to lab members, fostering knowledge exchange and skill development.
• Contribute to other projects on a collaborative basis, both in the lab and with external collaborators.
• Actively contribute to the development and publication of scientific manuscripts
• Help cultivate a collaborative, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating lab environment.

About you

You will bring

• PhD (or near completion) in cell biology, developmental biology, or biophysics.
• Proven expertise in advanced confocal and light-sheet microscopy, as shown by publications.
• Strong expertise in quantitative image analysis techniques.
• Excellent skills in molecular biology.
• Experience in embryological techniques (zebrafish/fly/mouse) as well as gene editing methods.
• Demonstrated ability to write scientific papers, as shown by publications and/or preprints in relevant fields.