About the Role
The role will require regular attendance on site in Milton Keynes.
The role holder will perform research into lab-growth of tissue and meat and carry out biophysical simulations of the resulting tissue.
Cells are active and can both manipulate and be manipulated by their environment. This feedback between environment and cells can lead tissues to become self-organised. This self-organisation is important for the correct functioning of biological tissues. We hope to understand (and eventually control) the arrangements of cells in tissues, particularly cultivated meat.
The project will involve the growth of cultured tissue in the laboratory and performing confocal microscopy on those tissues to establish the organisation of cells and create a data set for validating biophysical models. This will be used to validate our state-of-the-art techniques to predict the arrangements of cells in biological tissues, building on the CONDOR simulation technique (Hague, J. P. et al. Physical Review Research, 2, 043217, 2020).
The project will also use our mature simulation code to carry out simulations of the cultured tissues. Some knowledge of Linux would be helpful, but not essential. You should be willing to apply your skills to, and undertake training on, biological systems and/or their simulation if you do not already have a background in this area. We will provide training into the laboratory and/or simulation techniques if you do not have prior experience in that area.
This project offers:
- The chance to lead research papers
- Opportunities to use and develop skills in the growth of cultured tissue, an area of growing academic and industrial interest
- Opportunities to develop skills in biophysical models of tissues
Key Responsibilities
- Maintain cell cultures and perform imaging studies and analysis on these cultures
- To run and analyse CONDOR simulations on our high-performance computing cluster.
- To undertake training to run CONDOR simulations, in biophysics and / or to carry out cultured tissue growth as required.
- To contribute to writing papers and give presentations (at e.g. conferences and at the OU) as required.
- To contribute to the lively academic environment in the School of Physical Sciences.
Skills and Experience
Essential Criteria
- A PhD in physics, biology, applied mathematics, computing or a closely related field (PhD candidates who have submitted or are about to submit their thesis will be considered).
- Ability to communicate research results effectively.
- Good oral and written communication skills.
- Can demonstrate being a good team worker and able to work under own initiative.
- Experience with at least one of physics simulation, microscopy and / or wet biology.
- A willingness to work on biological systems and to run simulations, and a commitment to undertake training in these areas if required.
- Ability to plan and organise own work.
Desirable Criteria
- Familiarity with the Linux operating system.
- Experience in more than one of the areas of physics simulation, microscopy and / or wet biology.
- A record of peer-reviewed publications and/or conference submissions commensurate with career stage.
To apply for this role please submit a CV and a Supporting Statement, of up to 1,000 words. You should set out in your statement why you’re interested in this role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the required competencies for this role as detailed in the above essential and desirable criteria.
