Research Fellow in Oesophageal Disease Models

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have an established background in organoid disease models? Do you want to further your career in one of the UKs leading research intensive Universities?

Applications are invited for a Research Fellow to join an interdisciplinary team across the Faculties of Biological Sciences, Medicine and Engineering. You will focus on building a disease model to dissect the molecular mechanisms associated with oesophageal loss of function. This will lead to studying the cellular response to exposure to acid reflux and the activation of inflammatory response. 

You will benefit from the expertise of molecular/cellular biologists, biomedical engineers and physician scientists to produce oesophageal organoids as preclinical models of disease. You will employ biosamples from tissue biopsies derived from patients undergoing treatment for acid reflux and/or scleroderma (an autoimmune disease causing tissue scarring and severe gastrointestinal symptoms). Using these model systems we intend to recapitulate tissue conditions experienced by cells in the oesophagus and determine the inflammatory and immune response they trigger. Correlation of the molecular mechanistic interpretation of the data with patient data will enable us to identify novel routes to diagnosis and potential pharmaceutical intervention with significant effects on patient function and quality of life. 

You should have a PhD (or close to completion) in biology, bioengineering or a closely allied discipline, with a strong track record in experimental approaches to discerning molecular mechanisms of signal transduction and demonstrable experience in cellular biology including primary cell culture;

The University of Leeds is committed to providing equal opportunities for all and offer a range of family friendly policies. The University is a charter member of Athena SWAN (the national body that promotes gender equality in higher education), and the Faculty of Biological Sciences was reawarded a Silver Award in 2020. We are proud to be an inclusive Faculty that values all staff, and are happy to consider job share applications and requests for flexible working arrangements from our employees. Our Athena SWAN provides more information.