Chemistry Biology, Diagnostics & Therapeutics
Location: Campus Highfield
Salary: £40,931 to £51,805 per year
Full-time CDD (3 years)
Closing Date: Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Date of interview: be confirmed
Reference: 1956122EB
You will join our Biophotonics and Imaging group at the University of Southampton. This position is part of a recently awarded TiQBio Prosperity partnership between M Squared Life, Astra Zeneca and the University of Southampton. The interdisciplinary research program focuses on the development of advanced light sheet microscopy approaches to incorporate nonlinear and label-free techniques, increased throughput approaches, and machine learning to solve drug discovery problems. The research program is supported by EPSRC, BBSRC and industrial partners.
The group has well-equipped optics as well as a wet laboratory space. Additionally, the laboratories are housed in a building specifically designed for life science research with cell/tissue culture and associated biological facilities well resourced for the work envisioned in this program. In this program, several prototype systems will be built and 3D imaging methodologies for rapid analysis, including phenotypic profiling, will be established. Your main responsibility will be to lead the development of these platforms and the continued development of advanced analytical methodologies. You will also develop and use confocal fluorescence in addition to methods such as the light sheet microscope. We plan to develop different spectroscopic applications on these microscope systems for quantitative biological applications. Both home-made and commercial microscopes and optical systems will be used. The Biophotonics and Imaging group includes several postdoctoral fellows and PhD students, who will also be engaged in method development and advanced experimentation with new and established systems.
You will have a major impact on the scientific mission of the group and in particular on this project by leading a component of the work aimed at developing a new light sheet platform for high-resolution and aberration-free imaging of organoid samples. and 3D spheroids. A key development will be integrating machine learning to both improve image reconstruction and analysis. You will carry out your own research, work with the extended team and supervise PhD students and project students working on allied interdisciplinary projects. The position requires meaningful and independent interactions with collaborators inside and outside the university.
Although direct experience in all of the fields mentioned above is not required, you will have a PhD or equivalent professional qualifications and experience in physics (including chemical physics or physical chemistry) as well as significant research in applied microscopy and imaging are essential.
You will have experience of:-
- develop different varieties of microscopes from scratch, with at least the experience of building a light sheet microscope / structured illumination microscope.
- basic programming skills in matlab/python/java/labview, preferably at least two of these are highly desirable.
- Demonstrable ability to plan/organize your workload, show initiative, work well under pressure and communicate effectively/professionally with a range of stakeholders inside and outside the organization .
The following would also be highly desirable:-
- experience in the development and applications of light sheet microscopy. Implementing any advanced technology on light sheet microscopy will be an advantage.
- image various biological samples ranging from cultured cells to 3D tissues/organoids/embryos as well as small animals, with an emphasis on imaging in living conditions.
- perform functional and quantitative microscopy, such as FRET, FCS, fluorescence anisotropy, FRAP, etc.
- good computer and image analysis skills for a wide range of quantitative biological applications. Experience implementing machine learning tools in bio/imaging applications is also desirable.
- advanced image processing, using computational and machine learning tools, big data analysis and high-quality graphical rendering of bioimages.
- work together and reproduce microscopes, in laboratories located in different satellite laboratories and collaborating institutions.
- work experience in international working environments, preferably in advanced imaging/bioimaging centers or facilities.
- procurement funding for research or management of research project(s) as PI/co-PI/WP-leader
- multidisciplinary collaborative research experience spanning life sciences/biology, physical sciences, engineering, computer sciences and biotechnology
Informal inquiries should be directed to Professor Sumeet Mahajan, s.mahajan@soton.ac.uk
Equality, diversity and inclusion are central to the philosophy of chemistry. We particularly encourage female, black, Asian and minority ethnic, LGBT, and candidates with disabilities to apply for this position. In recognition of our continued commitment to improving equality for women in science, we received an Athena SWAN Silver award in 2014 and a second Silver award in 2017. Chemistry gives full consideration to candidates who want to work flexibly , including part-time and given due consideration. will be given to candidates who have interrupted their career. The University has a generous maternity policy* and on-site childcare facilities. For more information, please visit https://www.southampton.ac.uk/chemistry/about/Equality/index.page
You must submit your completed online application form to https://jobs.soton.ac.uk. The deadline for applications will be midnight on the closing date listed above. References are requested with your application. This referral system is automated, so please ensure you provide the correct email address and allow time for these to be received, prior to the closing date, to assist the department with shortlisting.
If you need help, please call Holly Shergold (recruitment team) on +44 (0)23 8059 5719 or email recruitment@soton.ac.uk. Please quote reference 1956122EB on all correspondence.