Research Fellow

About the role

Applications are invited for a full-time Research Fellow position to work with Dr Philip Pearce. The post is funded by a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship entitled “Multiscale modelling and control of soft biological matter: Linking biomolecular interactions to macroscopic function”. In this project, we will build a mathematical framework to predict how macroscopic properties and functions emerge from molecular and cellular interactions in bacterial biofilms.

The responsibilities of the post will include: carrying out vigorous, high-level research into modelling cell populations, developing upscaling techniques to build continuum models for biofilm mechanics, running code to simulate biofilms using continuum methods, and interfacing with other team members and experimental collaborators.

This post is available from 31st March 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter for approximately 36 months in the first instance due to funding restrictions thereafter. Salary will be UCL Grade 7 point 31-34 which is £ 45,103 - £48,679 per annum inclusive of London Allowance.

About you

Candidates should either have a PhD or equivalent qualification in Mathematics, Physics, Biophysics, or relevant areas of Computational Biology or Chemistry, or should be finalising their PhD or waiting for their viva date. Please note: Appointment at Grade 7 is dependent on award and confirmation of a PhD (or equivalent).

If this is not the case, the initial appointment will be at Research Assistant Grade 6B, point 25 (salary £38,607 per annum inclusive of London allowance) with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis.

The successful candidate should have experience and knowledge of discrete (e.g. cell-based) and/or continuum modelling, ideally in a biological context, as well as an experience of writing, developing and calibrating simulation code. The candidate should have a strong interest in biological research and commitment to high quality research, and excellent interpersonal skills to facilitate participation in a research group, mentoring of PhD students, and communication with experimental collaborators.

They should have the ability to analyse and write up results and to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences and show commitment to UCL’s policy of equal opportunity and the ability to work harmoniously with colleagues and students of all cultures and backgrounds. An outstanding candidate will have experience of research on bacterial biofilms and complex biological materials and experience of theoretical methods for upscaling such as asymptotic homogenisation, as well as experience of building mathematical models in close collaboration with experimental biologists.

For a full spectrum of duties and responsibilities as well as essential, and desired criteria please refer to the Further Particulars document attached to this advert. If you have any queries regarding the vacancy or the application process, please contact Anna Rutherford (anna.rutherford@ucl.ac.uk)

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Philip Pearce, (philip.pearce@ucl.ac.uk)

We particularly welcome female applicants and those from an ethnic minority, as they are under-represented within UCL at this level.

Customer advert reference: B04-06788

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