Research Fellow - Polymer Chemistry and Bionanotechnology

Location:  University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £32,348 to £42,155, with potential progression once in post to £44,737

Grade 7

Fixed-term for up to 2 years

Closing Date – 22 January 2023

A Research Fellow position is available from November 2022 for a two-year project to work in the field of polymer chemistry and bionanotechnology.

Sugar chains, known as glycans, perform a vast array of biological functions and play key roles in various physiological and pathological events. Thus, glycans are a rich source of biomarkers for many diseases, including neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, hereditary disorders, immune deficiencies, and cancer. However, a major technological bottleneck exists in the development of binding entities that can recognise glycan biomarkers with high specificity and affinity. This hampers major advances in the early and accurate diagnosis of many devastating human illnesses.

The aim of this project is to generate polymeric nanoparticles with the capability to recognise a broad range of glycans with high affinity and specificity. Furthermore, the nanoparticles need to accurately detect glycans in complex biological samples. The project involves an unprecedented combination of principles and methods of polymer chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, synthetic molecular recognition and nanochemistry.

The project will have transformative impact towards early detection of different cancers, including prostate cancer: https://prostatecanceruk.org/research/research-we-fund/ria17-st2-020

Main Duties include:

• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to knowledge transfer on own specialism that is of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods 
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader

 Applicants should have a PhD (or close to completing) in an area related with the project, e.g, organic chemistry, nanochemistry, supramolecular chemistry and biochemistry or a related field with a track record of publishing high quality research. The postdoctoral fellow will join a productive research group within the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham.

 Informal enquiries can be directed to Professor. Paula M Mendes via email: p.m.mendes@bham.ac.uk

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the Apply Online button above or visit our careers website; https://edzz.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_6001/job/281/?utm_medium=jobshare, please quote Job Ref 80209 in all enquiries. 

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment 

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working. 

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