Research Fellow

About us

UCL Biochemical Engineering is seeking to appoint a Research Fellow on a fixed-term of 24 months to be part of the growing UCL Cellular Agriculture Research Group led by Dr Petra Hanga (https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/84339-petra-hanga).

About the role

This project is funded by the Bezos Eart Fund Centre for Sustainable Proteins (https://www.bezosearthfund.org/news-and-insights/bezos-center-for-sustainable-protein-launches-at-imperial-with-30m-funding). In order to obtain a tissue that resembles the texture and flavour of livestock meat, co-culture of the meat component cell types is necessary. However, to date, this avenue has been loosely explored and most studies to date have been carried out in small tissue culture vessels in two dimensional set-ups that are not scalable for production. This project aims to investigate co-cultures and assess their feasibility for cultivated meat production. The challenges to be addressed i nclude improving quality (texture, taste), while reducing manufacturing costs. This collaborative project will complement the existing activity within our Cellular Agriculture Research Group at UCL Biochemical Engineering and the programme of work of the EPSRC Cellular Agriculture Manufacture Hub (CARMA).

About you

The successful applicant will have a PhD in a relevant subject (e.g. biochemical engineering, bioprocessing, regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, biology, molecular biology etc), experience of stem cell culture. Experience of working with hydrogels is highly desirable. Excellent organisational skills are essential. The ability to work both independently and as part of a team, and a flexible approach to problem-solving are required. Good communication skills and demonstrated ability to carry out high quality original research, as evidenced by publication in peer-reviewed journals, is essential.

What we offer

As well as the exciting o pportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below: • 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days) • Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme • Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE) • Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan • Immigration loan • Relocation scheme for certain posts • On-Site nursery • On-site gym • Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay • Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service • Discounted medical insurance Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/rewards-and-benefits to find out more. Further Details: A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we wan t our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. Our department holds an Athena Swan Gold award in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality. You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/

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