Job Description

Location
1
University of Warwick Campus, Coventry

Department
1
Warwick Medical School - Biomedical Sciences

Position Type
1
Full Time, Fixed Term

Salary
1
\xc2\xa345,585 - \xc2\xa354,395 per annum

About the Role
1


3 years extendable to maximum 5 years - (subject to a review at 3 years). Starting on or after 1 March 2024. The successful candidate will contribute to the formation of cross-departmental cluster of excellence led by Professor Satyajit Mayor, a world-leading researcher who has used a combination of soft condensed matter physics, computational simulation, organic chemistry, advanced cell imaging, in vitro reconstitution, and cell engineering to uncover how the cell membrane is organised at a nanometer scale-resolution (nanoscale). Prof Mayor is particularly known for pioneering fluoescence anisotropy imaging, fluoescence correlation and cross-correlation spectroscopy to advance our understanding of the cell surface. These appointments will further strengthen the activities of Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology (CMCB), a pre-eminent centre in the UK for research into the roles of molecular motors, mechanics in cell and developmental biology, which already has Balasubramanian, Saunders, K\xc3\xb6ster and Royle working in this area. Successful candidate will form part of a team of interdisciplinary scientists looking at \xe2\x80\x98cellular interfaces.\xe2\x80\x99 We will consider applications for employment on a part-time or other flexible working basis, even where a position is advertised as full-time, unless there are operational or other objective reasons why it is not possible to do so.

About You
1


This role will combine innovative research in Cellular interfaces with a commitment to educating the next generation of scientists. Successful candidate will be expected to:

• Conduct groundbreaking research in the field publishing in prestigious journals and securing external research fellowships and/or grants
• Mentor and guide students in their academic and research endeavours and contribute to the wider activities of the department
• Collaborate with colleagues to contribute to the growth of the cross-departmental excellence cluster
• Contribute to the development of high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, which will be for personal and professional development

About the Department
1


Our Ambition for the Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology (CMCB) The successful candidate will be based at our purpose-built Mechanochemical Cell Biology Building (MCBB) at our Gibbet Hill site. The CMBC will build on its current discovery research, bringing together areas of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Nanotechnology, and Computational Science in an over-arching effort to understand how the cell membrane works. Over the years, Warwick\xe2\x80\x99s researchers have built expertise in harnessing multiple experimental and computational approaches to address questions in this area. Our infrastructure has also expanded considerably to provide practical support for this research, with an excellent suite of microscopes (ranging from light to cryo-electron), organic synthesis, and microfluidics and nanotechnology facilities Current research activities contributing to this exciting area are distributed across our campus with contributions from Warwick Medical School, the School of Life Sciences, Chemistry and Physics. There is a great enthusiasm for bringing these investigators together to create a centre that is larger than the sum of its parts. This work will make a unique contribution to the UK and global research landscapes. Whilst there are already some excellent research centres in membrane biology in the UK, this work will consider the cell surface as a composite of lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and the underlying cytoskeleton and seek to understand the cell surface in its entirety. It will also draw substantially on principles from soft condensed matter and experimental physics, organic chemistry, and computational simulation to understand the cell surface as a chemical composite. Further, the focus in many UK-based centres is to understand important molecular mechanisms of medically focused questions that lead to drug discovery and protein-based therapies. By contrast, we aim to understand cell surface organisation (fromnano to mesoscales) that leads to cell and tissue scale morphogenesis. This integrated approach to the science of the cell surface, which is so fundamentally important for all aspects of life on our planet, has the strong potential to lead to innovative solutions that will benefit the wide public. In addition, the co-location of this new team alongside existing CMCB colleagues will facilitate unique and new collaborations between researchers working on \xe2\x80\x98how transport of molecules and cell parts are orchestrated\xe2\x80\x99 and those working on \xe2\x80\x98how the cell surface is assembled and how it functions.\xe2\x80\x99 CMCB researchers have expertise in measuring forces generated by individual molecules (in the order of piconewtons). This, and similar transferable technologies, can be implemented to address cell surface level questions. The expansion of this team will drive the sharing of expertise and equipment and will build a vigorous research culture focused on making new discoveries that may not be readily possible elsewhere. The wider University also brings long-standing strengths in mathematics and a \xc2\xa3400M STEM Grand Challenge that will provide physical sciences infrastructure for the next century and an ambition to drive medical technology, artificial intelligence and digital health. WMS is a young medical school with big ambitions and a track record of success across research, innovation, and education. Translational research is at the heart of our strategic ambition. We are committed to leveraging cutting-edge interdisciplinary research that seeks to intercept human disease and health challenges before symptoms manifest and to develop/test/evaluate interventions that can curtail disease progression and limit impact on human populations. We strive to be innovative, bold, interdisciplinary, and inspiring, while ensuring a positive research culture and an advocacy for open science. The University of Warwick is one of the UK\xe2\x80\x99s remarkable success stories. Within 50 years, we have become one of the country\xe2\x80\x99s best universities, consistently in the top 10 of UK league tables and rapidly climbing the international rankings of world-class universities. We are a centre of excellence for learning and research with an ambition to innovate and build partnerships with industry and the health care sector. For further information about Warwick Medical School, please visit our website.

About the University
1


Born in the 60s with a mindset of boldness, imagination and collaboration, the University of Warwick is a world-leading research-intensive university with the highest academic and research standards. We\xe2\x80\x99re one of the world\xe2\x80\x99s top universities, ranked 67th in the world and 10th in the UK*, with 92% of our research assessed to be \xe2\x80\x98world leading or internationally excellent\xe2\x80\x99**. You\'ll be joining a diverse, innovative and globally connected community committed to igniting real world progress. Here at Warwick, we offer you opportunities to follow your ambitions as long as you bring the energy and determination to succeed.

• QS World University Rankings 2024

** Research Excellence Framework 2021


How to Apply
1


For informal enquiries, please contact Catherine Newman, Catherine.Newman@warwick.ac.uk To apply please complete your essential personal details and attach a CV and cover letter by the closing date of 7th January 2024. Please ensure your CV includes your most recent employment experience along with any additional relevant experience and education history. Your cover letter should detail how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for this post. Interview date TBC

What we Offer
1


We will provide you with a great range of benefits, which include an attractive pension scheme, 30 days holiday plus Christmas closure, excellent learning and development opportunities, and savings on a wide range of products and services. We offer a generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy, and onsite childcare facilities.
We are proud to say that we are a Living Wage employer.

Our Commitment to Inclusion
1


Warwick is committed to building an organisation of mutual respect and dignity, promoting a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive working and learning environment. We recognise that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, and valued. Where possible, we go beyond legislation to provide a place where everyone can thrive, supporting all staff to achieve their full potential. We aspire to remove economic, social, and cultural barriers that may otherwise prevent people from succeeding. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation. The University currently holds a Race Equality Charter Bronze Award, Athena Swan Sliver Award and a Disability Smart Bronze Award. The University of Warwick is also one of the six founder institutions of the EUTOPIA European University Alliance. Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) The University of Warwick complies with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against anyone who makes a Disclosure relating to a conviction or other information revealed. More information is available on the University\xe2\x80\x99s Vacancy pages and applicants may request a copy of the DBS Code of Practice.