Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position at the interface of biology and physics in the group of Prof. Ewa Paluch. The Paluch lab studies cellular morphogenesis combining cell and molecular biology, quantitative imaging and biophysical approaches to investigate cell shape changes in cultured cells and in vivo. Current projects in the lab include investigating the regulation of the mechanical properties of the cellular actin cortex, the biomechanics of cell migration and cell division, and the role of cell shape and mechanics during cell fate changes.
The successful candidate will conduct fundamental research aimed at understanding how contractile tension at the cell surface (cellular cortical tension) is generated at the molecular level. The aim of the project is to investigate the nanoscale behaviour of myosin motors in the cortex using super resolution microscopy and advanced image analysis. The quantitative data on myosin localization, orientation and dynamics will then be integrated in a computational model of cortex tension generation, developed in collaboration with Dr Guillaume Salbreux (Francis Crick Institute, London), to explore the basic principles of contractile tension generation.
You should hold a PhD (or about to be awarded a PhD) in Biophysics of a related field and have extensive experience with super-resolution microscopy and advanced image analysis (including analysis code development). The project will involve cell culture and imaging of the cytoskeleton, you should thus have experience with cell biology and cell imaging; further knowledge of the cytoskeleton will be considered an advantage.
The Paluch lab is currently relocating from University College London to the Department of PDN at the University of Cambridge. Further information on the lab:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/lmcb/users/ewa-paluch
https://www.pdn.cam.ac.uk/directory/ewa-paluch
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 12 months in the first instance.
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Please upload a covering letter, CV and publication list with your application and supply contact details of three referees.
Please quote reference PM16739 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
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