Postdoctoral Fellow

TN United Kingdom; Croydon; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 60,000

Job description

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Details of the role: Fixed term for 4 years, full-time. The position is offered for 4 years but can be extended for a further 2 years (6 years in total).

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. If the position remains unfilled, we may continue to advertise on a rolling basis.

About us…

The Francis Crick Institute is Europe’s largest biomedical research institute under one roof. The Crick is a place for collaboration, innovation and exploration across many disciplines. A space where the brightest minds can pursue big and bold ideas and discover answers to crucial scientific questions. We support them in a dynamic environment which fosters excellence with state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting-edge facilities, and a creative and curious culture. We’ve removed traditional boundaries of departments, divisions and disciplines and instead have an open approach that supports every researcher. This gives us the freedom to take risks and carry out high-quality, pioneering research. Creating a space for discovery without boundaries helps us to turn our science into benefits for human health and the economy.

About the role…

We are seeking a postdoctoral fellow interested in combining interdisciplinary approaches with excellent tractability of the zebrafish heart to study a long-standing problem – how organ form and function emerge during development. Some of the fundamental questions we seek to address include:

1. Feedback between mechanics, cell fate dynamics, and geometry driving tissue patterning.
2. How 3D topological meshworks are shaped, constrained, and canalized.
3. How nuclear integrity is sustained in a developing beating heart.
4. Morphogenesis and Mechanics of organ scaling and regeneration.
5. Bioelectricity of Morphogenesis.

The suitable candidate will utilize advanced microscopic techniques, image analysis, genetic manipulations, biophysical approaches, and collaborate with theoreticians to address these questions. The specific details and aims of the project will be driven by the candidate’s interest and training. Candidates with a strong background in advanced imaging approaches, image analysis techniques, tissue morphogenesis/mechanics are encouraged to apply.

What you will be doing…

The overarching goal of our lab is to study how functional organs are built to sustain life during embryonic development. This is a long-standing problem in biology with significant implications for tissue engineering and birth defects. To solve this fundamental problem, we use a well-suited model system, the developing zebrafish heart, as it is amenable to state-of-the-art optical, biophysical, and genetic manipulations. We take a systems biology approach by integrating tools from tissue mechanics, developmental genetics, transcriptomics, biophysics, and predictive theoretical modelling. Using these approaches, we dissect the morphogenesis of complex organs like the heart in exceptional detail, within the physiological context of a living embryo.

A key step during vertebrate heart development is chamber maturation – a poorly-understood morphogenetic process critical for heart function. During this process, the myocardial wall of the ventricle and atrium transforms from a single-layered epithelium into a complex 3D topological meshwork architecture. In the ventricle, these meshwork-like structures are called trabeculae, while in the atrium they are referred to as pectinate fibers. Anomalous morphology and patterning of these structures lead to embryonic lethality and cardiomyopathies in humans. Yet, cellular and physical mechanisms building and rebuilding this myocardial meshwork remain poorly understood. Combining the excellent tractability of zebrafish with interdisciplinary approaches, some of the fundamental questions we seek to address include:

1. Feedback between mechanics, cell fate dynamics, and geometry driving tissue patterning.
2. How 3D topological meshworks are shaped, constrained, and canalized.
3. How nuclear integrity is sustained in a developing beating heart.
4. Morphogenesis and Mechanics of organ scaling and regeneration.
5. Bioelectricity of Morphogenesis.

You will address one of these questions using advanced microscopic techniques, image analysis, genetic/optical manipulations, biophysical approaches, and in collaboration with theoreticians. The specific details and aims of the project will be driven by your interest and training. If you have a strong background in advanced imaging approaches, image analysis techniques, tissue morphogenesis/mechanics, we encourage you to apply.

About you…

You will bring…

• PhD in developmental biology/biophysics/cell biology or in the final stages of PhD submission.
• Strong expertise in advanced confocal and/or light sheet imaging.
• Strong expertise in quantitative image analysis approaches.
• Excellent molecular biology skills.
• Strong interest and experience in using interdisciplinary approaches in their research program.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

About Working at the Crick…

Our values

• We arebold. We make space for creative, dynamic and imaginative ideas and approaches. We’re not afraid to do things differently.
• We areopen. We’re highly collaborative and interactive, and make sure our activities are visible to the outside world.
• We arecollegial. We show respect for one another, work cooperatively and support the wider community.

At the Francis Crick Institute, we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to driving innovation and scientific discovery. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed, regardless of their background, identity, or personal circumstances. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all genders, ethnicities, abilities, and experiences. We want to ensure that everyone can apply and be part of our recruitment processes and so we'll make reasonable adjustments if you need them - just let us know when you apply. If you need assistance with applying (i.e., would like to apply by phone or post)please email:

What will you receive?

At the Francis Crick Institute, we value our team members and are proud to offer an extensive range of benefits to support their well-being and development:

• Visas: Applicants for this role will be eligible for sponsorship to work in the UK
• Generous Leave: 28 days of annual leave, plus three additional days over Christmas and bank holidays.
• Pension Scheme: Defined contribution pension with employer contributions of up to 16%.
• 24/7 GP consultation services.
• Occupational health services and mental health support programs.
• Eye care vouchers and discounted healthcare plans.
• Work-Life Balance:
• Childcare support allowance.
• Annual leave purchase options.
• Crick Networks offering diverse groups’ support, community and inclusive social events.
• Discounted gym memberships, bike-to-work scheme, and shopping discounts.
• Subsidised on-site restaurant and social spaces for team interaction.
• Development & Recognition: Comprehensive training, mentoring, and a pay structure with performance-linked progression.

Find out what benefits the Crick has to offer:

For more information on our great pay and benefits package please click here: https://www.crick.ac.uk/careers-and-study/life-at-the-crick/pay-and-benefits

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We welcome applications from all backgrounds. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, pregnancy, age, disability, or civil partnership, marital or family status. We particularly welcome applications from people who are Minority Ethnic as they are currently underrepresented in the Crick at this level.

Diversity is essential to excellence in scientific endeavour. It increases breadth and perspective, leading to more innovation and creativity. We want the Crick to be a place where everyone feels valued and where diversity is celebrated and seen as part of the foundation for our Institute’s success.

The Crick is committed to creating equality of opportunity and promoting diversity and inclusivity. We all share in the responsibility to actively promote dignity, respect, inclusivity and equal treatment and it is our aim to ensure that these principles are reflected and implemented in all strategies, policies and practices.