Postdoctoral Research Scientist: Promoting Cardiac Lymphangiogenesis and Immunomodulation in a Large Animal MI Model

Full time, fixed term for 12 months 

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Scientist to work with Professor Paul Riley on a British Heart Foundation-funded collaborative project with colleagues from Kings College London (Professor Mauro Giacca), University of Bristol (Professor Raimondo Ascione) and University of Edinburgh (Professor Andy Baker). The project aim is to provide proof-of-principle that gene-transfer mediated cardiac lymphangiogenesis in a large animal MI model has efficacy in terms of reduced scarring and remodelling and improved functional outcome. This builds on successful studies in smaller animal models and will test the overall hypothesis that stimulating lymphangiogenesis and coronary angiogenesis by VEGFC/C156S will promote immune cell clearance to improve repair, establish conditions for tissue restoration and significantly improve functional outcome in a large preclinical animal model. 

Responsibilities will include carrying out detailed phenotypic analysis of a large animal MI heart samples from control and VEGFC/C156S treatment groups provided by collaborators in Bristol. The successful applicant will carry out histological, cell biology and gene/protein expression studies to provide qualitative and quantitative data to correlate with functional imaging (fMRI) carried out by collaborators in Bristol. They will be required to use specialist scientific equipment in a laboratory environment, and to contribute to other on-going research projects within the laboratory, in accordance with experience and grade. In addition, they will teach experimental techniques to graduate and undergraduate project students and provide supervision of these students within the laboratory. The successful applicant will be expected to present at internal group meetings and will have the opportunity to attend external scientific meetings and to contribute to drafting manuscripts for the publication of the project studies. There will be scope for further research training through courses run both within the University and externally, for example in computational biology.  

The successful applicant will hold, or be near to completion of a relevant PhD degree, and have experience in molecular/cellular biology relevant to the programme of work. They must be strongly motivated with a highly enthusiastic approach to science and good organizational, verbal, communication, and interpersonal skills. They must be able to work both independently and part of a research team. It is desirable (but not essential) that the successful applicant has experience in cardiovascular research working with animal models. Experience of histology and gene/protein expression analyses and confocal microscopy with image analysis software would be beneficial. 

The successful applicant will be based at the Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), IMS-Tetsuya Nakamura Building, Old Road Campus, Oxford, OX3 7TY. 

The position is fixed term for 12 months, funded by the British Heart Foundation.

Closing date for applications is midday on 6th January 2023.

Interviews are likely to be held week commencing 16th January 2023.

For further information on the post, please contact Professor Paul Riley - paul.riley@idrm.ox.ac.uk. Details of “how to apply” can be found in the accompanying job description.

Applications are particularly welcome from women, black and minority ethnic candidates who are under-represented in academic posts in Oxford.  

We, as a Department and Community, will be considerate and welcoming of all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity. We acknowledge societal inequalities and how these impact us, and those around us, personally and professionally. – DPAG Statement of Inclusion

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