Contract: Fixed-term (4 years)

Summary

An ERC funded postdoc position is available in the Briscoe lab. The lab aims to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underpin the development of the vertebrate neural tube. In this tissue, secreted molecules form extracellular gradients that regulate the expression of a set of genes, notably transcription factors, which control the identity and proliferation of neural progenitors thereby governing pattern formation and tissue growth. The lab investigates how signals are perceived and interpreted by cells through the use of molecular, imaging and modelling approaches to assay morphogen signalling dynamics, cell fate specification and gene regulation. They develop novel tools and approaches to obtain a comprehensive view of neural tube development and to analyze the interdependence between different aspects of pattern formation. For the experimental studies a range of models including mouse and chick embryos and mouse and human embryonic stem cells are used.

Project Scope

The lab is looking for a creative, proactive and enthusiastic bioengineer to develop microfabrication and tissue engineering methods to study the development of the spinal cord.

In this project, some of the specific aims could include but not be limited to:

• Designing microfluidic cell culture systems to control the in vitro microenvironment
• Adapting 2D micropatterning techniques to recapitulate tissue level architecture of the neural tube
• Designing biomaterials with orthogonal chemistries for controlling cellular differentiation
• Design of optogenetic systems to control tissue development and differentiation

Postdoctoral Training Fellows are expected to lead their own projects, contribute to other projects on a collaborative basis (both in the lab and with external collaborators) and guide PhD students in their research. The ability to work in a team is essential.

The Francis Crick Institute is a biomedical discovery institute dedicated to understanding the fundamental biology underlying health and disease. Its work is helping to understand why disease develops and to translate discoveries into new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, infections, and neurodegenerative diseases.

An independent organisation, its founding partners are the Medical Research Council (MRC), Cancer Research UK, Wellcome, UCL (University College London), Imperial College London and King’s College London.

The Crick was formed in 2015, and in 2016 it moved into a brand new state-of-the-art building in central London which brings together 1500 scientists and support staff working collaboratively across disciplines, making it the biggest biomedical research facility under a single roof in Europe.

The Francis Crick Institute will be world-class with a strong national role. Its distinctive vision for excellence includes commitments to collaboration; to developing emerging talent and exporting it the rest of the UK; to public engagement; and to helping turn discoveries into treatments as quickly as possible to improve lives and strengthen the economy.

The closing date for applications is 15 July 2018 at 23:30 pm.

Please note: all offers of employment are subject to successful security screening and continuous eligibility to work in the United Kingdom.