Research Fellow (107971-0823)

Duration: Full-time, fixed-term for 5 years (Starting 8 January 2024) with an extension up to a max 8 years subject to sufficient funding.

About the Role  

Postdoctoral researcher in experimental biophysics and super-resolution microscopy

KEYWORDS: BIOPHYSICS | QUANTITATIVE BIOLOGY | MICROSCOPY | SUPER-RESOLUTION | SINGLE MOLECULE |

We are recruiting a postdoctoral researcher to investigate the biophysical principles of bacterial cell division using in vivo single molecule tracking and super-resolution fluorescence microscopy.

You will join an ambitious team science project to uncover fundamental mechanistic principles of bacterial cell division. Cell division is one of the most basic requirements for life. In bacteria it is also of high biomedical importance as one of the best targets for antibiotics. 

The position will be based in the group of Séamus Holden at the University of Warwick (https://holdenlab.github.io/). The post is for 5 years with possible extension to 8 years. You will work closely with the groups of Jan Löwe (structural cell biology, MRC LMB, Cambridge) and Andela Šarić (computational biophysics, IST Austria, Vienna).

The goal of your project is to reveal key biophysical principles that enable bacterial cell division proteins to coordinate in space and time to divide the cell. To achieve this, you will principally use single molecule tracking, super-resolution microscopy and quantitative analysis of microscopy data.

We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you are excited by this role, we encourage you to apply, even if your past experience does not match exactly.  We also encourage applications from all groups with protected characteristics (traditionally under-represented in STEM fields).

About You  

Applicants should either have a PhD in a relevant subject or be due to complete their PhD within 6 months. Expertise in either experimental biophysics, advanced light microscopy or a related area is required.

Expertise in single molecule or super-resolution fluorescence microscopy is desirable. Proficiency in analysing microscopy data using a common scientific data science language such as Python or MATLAB is desirable. Experience in applying advanced fluorescence microscopy methods to understand biological systems, either in vitro or in vivo, is desirable.

If you are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD but not conferred, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant before being promoted to Research Fellow.

About the Department  

You will join the Holden Lab at Warwick University. We are a diverse group of interdisciplinary scientists who study bacterial cell biophysics using super-resolution microscopy. See e.g.: Middlemiss et al bioRxiv (2023), Whitley et al bioRxiv (2023), Nature Communications 12, 2448 (2021), Science 355 739-743 (2017). 

We are based at the new Interdisciplinary Biosciences Building at the School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, a collaborative environment with world class facilities for microbiology and super-resolution microscopy. We and the wider University of Warwick environment offer substantial opportunities for professional development including regular opportunities to attend international conferences.

For those eligible, the University of Warwick offers relocation and Immigration Support Scheme packages to assist with costs of relocating and any associated visa applications and HIS (health) surcharge fees.

For further information about The School of Life Sciences, please visit our website.

Full details of the duties and selection criteria for this role can be found in the vacancy advert on the University of Warwick's jobs pages. You will be routed to this when you click on the Apply button.

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