Research Associate - Mono-Responsive Microbubbles for Acoustically-Triggered Drug Release

Salary: £49,017 - £57,472 

Location: South Kensington Campus, Imperial College London 

About the role: 

We are seeking a Research Associate to design, fabricate, analyse, and test unique microbubble structures and compositions that can be triggered using ultrasound pulses. The research aim is to construct microbubbles that are mono-responsive by modifying the shell elasticity, viscosity, size, and other parameters; and then conjugating them to drug-filled liposomes. 

These microbubbles would be controlled by our unique multi-spectral focused ultrasound device to perform "mosaic neuropharmacology"—a method for manipulating neural circuits across the brain noninvasively in both space and time. This funded project will be the most advanced tool for brain-targeted material delivery, with incredible potential for treating neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. 

What you will be doing: 

You will design and fabricate microbubbles of different shell and gas properties using lipid chemistry, and characterise them with DLS/ OM/ other techniques in collaboration with other postdocs (microfluidics, acoustics, etc.). This involves designing lipid formulations; developing microbubble-liposome complexes; loading drugs into liposomes; characterising the microbubble and liposome properties; testing the acoustically-triggered drug release; and other duties, such as publishing papers and supervising other researchers. 

You will work closely with another 2 PhD students with computational skillsets, a post-doc with microfluidics expertise, and a post-doc with biomedical acoustics expertise. Together, you will be creating a new generation of microbubbles. 

Your work will be within a larger research programme involving 8 principal investigators, 4 post-doctoral researchers, and 5 PhD students from Imperial College London, King’s College London, University of Arizona, and the University of Michigan. 

The programme aims to build a noninvasive technology for precisely delivering distinct drugs to targeted brain regions with exceptional spatial and temporal control. Our approach will engineer microbubbles capable of carrying drug payloads that release only in response to specific remote signals. Your microbubbles will respond to these signals, enabling precise drug release. We will validate this platform in rats and rabbits, demonstrating the controlled release of multiple drugs to different areas of the brain. Using these technical innovations, we will perform "mosaic neuropharmacology"—a novel method for manipulating neural circuits across the brain noninvasively in both space and time. This platform will represent the most advanced tool for brain-targeted material delivery, offering potential for neuroscientists and neurologists to explore and treat neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders more effectively. 

What we are looking for:

• Exceptional ability to create innovative and high-quality microbubbles and liposomes
• Expertise in lipid chemistry
• Fundamental understanding of the physics and chemistry involved in microbubble and liposome formation and stability.
• An individual with self-initiative to drive the project forward.
• An excellent team player who can work in an intense milestone-driven interdisciplinary research programme.
• A hardworking individual motivated by the vision and mission of our research programme. 

What we can offer you: 

• The opportunity to work on a moonshot research programme with the ambition of creating a breakthrough platform for manipulating neural circuits.
• A launchpad of a strong academic and/or translational track record, enabling you to launch a future in academia, industry, or a startup.
• Learn from world-leading experts in the field, including focused ultrasound arrays and engines from Timothy Hall, Co-Founder of Histosonics, and brain drug delivery technologies from James Choi, winner of the Frederic Lizzi Award from the International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound.
• Learn multi-disciplinary skills from world-leading researchers: Terry Matsunaga (lipid chemistry), Sam Au (microfluidics), Sophie Morse (ultrasound bioeffects), Antonios Pouliopoulos (ultrasound neuronavigation), Andriy Kozlov (neuroscience), and Firat Güder (smart materials and sensors).
• Learn how to conduct research for translational impact, working alongside those who have experience in this arena: Danny Green (former venture capitalist and CEO of 3 MedTech companies), Timothy Hall (Co-Founder of Histosonics), James Choi (Co-Founder of Fether Labs and Precision Microbubbles), Antonios Pouliopoulos (3 clinical studies with focused ultrasound devices), Firat Guder (Co-Founder of Unhindr, Blakbear, AniML).
• Immersion in Imperial College London and the Department of Bioengineering, a warm and collaborative environment alongside brilliant scientists and engineers.
• Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 39 days off a year and generous pension schemes). 

Further Information 

This is a fulltime-fixed term post for 12 months. This job is part of an Advanced Research + Invention Agency-funded project. 

If you require any further details on the role please contact: James Choi – j.choi@imperial.ac.uk                                                                       

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

If you encounter any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us at support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk. We're here to help.

About Imperial

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Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world’s toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.

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This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you’ll join us at Imperial College London. 

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