Research Fellow in High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy Methods Development

Location: Leeds - Main Campus

Working time: 37.5 hours per week

Contract type: Fixed Term (2 years - to complete specific time limited work)

Interview date: To be confirmed

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Are you interested in applying your research skills to develop new methods to improve resolution for healthcare applications? Do you want to further your career in one of the UKs leading research-intensive Universities?

You will join an EPSRC Open Fellowship project in the group of George Heath which aims to develop new Atomic Force Microscopy methods to improve spatial resolution and quantitatively map interactions with microsecond and at sub-nanometre resolution.

To better understand the behaviour of any disease and to develop treatment options for it, we need to understand processes occurring on the single molecule level as well as the cellular and tissue levels. However, biomolecules are highly dynamic and have complex structures which are difficult to observe simultaneously. Biomolecules such as DNA and proteins interact with many other molecules to perform their biological function. Exploiting these interactions with molecules such as drugs, to block or enhance function can be used to treat or prevent diseases. However, few experimental techniques can capture this information at the relevant spatiotemporal scales. In this project you will work experimentally develop AFM methods to enable near atomic resolution imaging of single biomolecules interacting with binding partners.

Holding a PhD (or have submitted your thesis prior to taking up the role) in Physics, Chemistry, Biophysics or a related field, you will have experience in atomic force microscopy of biological samples and a developing track record of peer reviewed publications in international journals.

We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact: 

Dr. George Heath, University Academic Fellow (Tel: +44 (0)113 343 9718 or email: G.R.Heath@leeds.ac.uk) 

What we offer in return

• 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme plus life assurance– the University contributes 14.5% of salary. 
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available. And much more! 

Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information, please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

For research and academic posts, we will consider eligibility under the Global Talent visa. For more information, please visit: www.gov.uk/global-talent.

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