Research Associate (Fixed Term)

A position is open for a Postdoctoral Research Associate as part of a collaborative project between the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CEB) at the University of Cambridge as part of a large scale collaborative project funded under the UKRI cross disciplinary research council funding scheme. The project will be supervised by Prof. Clemens Kaminski (https://laser.ceb.cam.ac.uk ) and Prof. Melody Clark (https://www.bas.ac.uk/profile/mscl/).

This 2-year project aims to develop high-resolution microscopes to study biological processes at sub-zero temperatures, with a focus on understanding cellular mechanisms in Antarctic fish species that live permanently at around 0 degrees or below.   

We are interested to see how dynamic biological processes take place such as organelle function, protein folding, transport, etc., in live cells adapted to survive at 0 degrees and below, and to investigate how these processes are affected by rising sea temperatures. 

The successful candidate will be tasked with developing two microscopy systems: one for use in a cold room at 0 degrees in BAS's cold environmental facility, which will need to be partially remotely controlled, and the other involving the adaptation of an existing high-resolution microscope in CEB. This will include incorporating low-temperature technologies to maintain the sample at physiological temperatures, while preventing condensation and ice formation on optics and addressing aberrations caused by refractive index changes and thermal expansion.

The candidate will work closely with another experienced PDRA, who will focus on developing live cell cultures from Antarctic fish and preparing them for high-resolution biological imaging.

The candidate will be based both in CEB and BAS, which are within a short walking distance of one another.

The successful candidate will have a strong track record in the design and construction of optical systems and ideally expertise in engineering for complex imaging hardware. Experience in super-resolution microscopy or light sheet microscopy will be advantageous.

The group is committed to open science and making all of our methods available to researchers around the world. To this end, experience in open programming languages - such as Python - for hardware control is desirable.

The ability to work both as part of a team and independently, coupled with excellent communication, organisational and problem-solving skills are essential. The duties / responsibilities of this post include developing and driving research objectives, writing up work for presentation and publication, collaborating with academic and industrial partners, assisting in the supervision of student research projects, and delivering seminars and occasional talks as outlined on the Further Information document.

Applicants should provide a CV, including contact details of three referees, and a covering letter describing their suitability for the role. For further information, please contact Prof. Clemens Kaminski (cfk23@cam.ac.uk) or Prof. Melody Clark (mscl@bas.ac.uk).

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, click the 'Apply' button above. 

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Mr Vito Candela, HR Administrator, at hr@ceb.cam.ac.uk.

Applications closing dates 22nd of September 2024.

Please quote reference NQ43045 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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