Postdoctoral Research Assistant

About the Role

Applications are invited for a full-time Postdoctoral Research Assistant to investigate mechanical sensing in cardiac muscle cells and its involvement in cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of mortality worldwide, yet there is still a lack of effective treatments. Recent research increasingly emphasised that changes to mechanical sensing and signalling critically influences the disease onset and progression1-5. Our recent data indicated a novel mechanosensitive complex at the cell-cell contacts of cardiomyocytes, the contractile cells in the heart, which we want to study here in further detail, using primary cardiomyocyte cultures, bioengineering and advanced microscopy tools.

The position will be based at the Iskratsch lab. The project is a collaboration with Prof Andrew Tinker to investigate the implications on the cardiomyocyte electrophysiology and Prof Cesare Terracciano to study this complex at tissue level using myocardial slice cultures6, for which the candidate will also perform work at Imperial College London.

Our research groups prioritize a healthy research culture, collaboration, and flexible work hours as needed. We will provide personalised mentorship to the successful candidate. Previous group members continued to careers in academia and industry.

1. Iskratsch et al., Nat Rev Cell Mol Biol (2013)
2. (2018)
3. Marhuenda et al, BioRxiv (2023)
4. Swiatlowska et al, Sci Adv (2022)
5. Swiatlowska et al, Adv Sci (2024)
6. Pitoulis et al, Cardiovasc Res (2022)

About You

The successful candidate will be a highly motivated, interdisciplinary team worker with expertise in bioengineering, or mechanobiology and strong back ground in cell and ideally cardiovascular biology.

About the School/Department/Institute/Project

This post is within the School of Engineering and Materials Science (SEMS), where the successful candidate will have access to a large range of equipment including state-of-the art microscopes, bio- and nanofabrication equipment, mechanical and structural characterisation and equipment for mechanical stimulation.

About Queen Mary

At Queen Mary University of London, we believe that a diversity of ideas helps us achieve the previously unthinkable.

Throughout our history, we’ve fostered social justice and improved lives through academic excellence. And we continue to live and breathe this spirit today, not because it’s simply ‘the right thing to do’ but for what it helps us achieve and the intellectual brilliance it delivers.

Our reformer heritage informs our conviction that great ideas can and should come from anywhere. It’s an approach that has brought results across the globe, from the communities of east London to the favelas of Rio de Janeiro.

We continue to embrace diversity of thought and opinion in everything we do, in the belief that when views collide, disciplines interact, and perspectives intersect, truly original thought takes form.

Benefits

In return, we offer 30 days’ leave per annum, access to a pension scheme, a season ticket loan scheme and competitive salaries. We also offer enhanced family friendly leave, and an on-site nursery at the Mile End campus. You will also work with a friendly team, with personal development opportunities.

Queen Mary’s commitment to our diverse and inclusive community is embedded in our appointments processes. Reasonable adjustments will be made at each stage of the recruitment process for any candidate with a disability.

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