Job Description

Full-time, fixed term until 28/02/2029.

About us:

At the Department of Physiology Anatomy & Genetics (DPAG) we undertake discovery science where we reassemble physiological processes at the molecular, cellular, tissue and systems level of organisation. In so doing we provide a bridge to translational medicine, and interface between physical and life sciences. We are committed not only to innovative research and the highest standard of teaching, but also to creating an inclusive and supportive working environment.

Overview of the role:

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Scientist to join our work with Dr Filipa Simoes on a BBSRC-funded collaborative project as part of consortium (CellTalkHDD) of investigators from the University of Cambridge (Professor Sanjay Sinha- consortium lead PI; Dr Richard Tyser; Professor Sarah Teichman) and University of Oxford (Professor Paul Riley), studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms of human heart development.
The ideal candidate will be hold, or be near to completion, of a relevant PhD degree and have experience in molecular/cellular biology relevant to the programme of work. They must be strongly motivated with a highly enthusiastic approach to science and good organisational, verbal, communication and interpersonal skills. They must be able to work both independently and part of a research team. It is desirable that the successful applicant has experience in cardiovascular research and/or working with the zebrafish model. Experience of hPSC-derived in vitro models, 2D and/or 3D and experience in imaging, including use of confocal and lightsheet microscopy, would be beneficial.

This is a full-time position where experimental work will be performed at the IDRM, however there is possibility for some analytical work to be completed remotely.

Key responsibilities:

Manage your own academic research and administrative activities. This involves small scale project management, co-ordinating multiple aspects of work, meeting deadlines and supporting interactions with other CellTalkHDD consortia members and research collaborators Carry out collaborative projects with colleagues in Oxford, Cambridge and partner institutions and research groups Adapt existing and develop new scientific techniques and experimental protocols. The successful applicant must be familiar with or have the capacity to become quickly familiar with basic cell and molecular biology techniques, genomics, tissue histology, embryology and fluorescence imaging approaches Leverage human developmental heart cell atlas data generated across the consortium to further engineer in vitro 3D cardiac organoid model systems using human ES and iPS cells Carry out multimodal single cell and spatial transcriptomics experiments on zebrafish embryos and newly-engineered cardiac organoids, subsequent in situ validation and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing of key regulators

Selection criteria:

Hold, or be close to completion of, a PhD/DPhil or equivalent in a relevant area of research Must have laboratory experience in molecular/cellular biology and/or genomics relevant to the project described above Must have the ability to contribute significant intellectual input to the progress and direction of the research project and to take the lead in some areas Must be capable of obtaining a Home Office personal license with relevant authorities to conduct required procedures. NB. professional training will be provided if the successful does not already have a personal license.

What we offer:

Your wellbeing at work matters, so we offer a range of family friendly and financial benefits including:
Hybrid working An excellent contributory pension scheme 38 days annual leave A comprehensive range of childcare services Family leave schemes Cycle and electric car loan schemes Employee Assistance Programme Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans

How to apply:

Please provide a supporting statement outlining how you meet the selection criteria along with your CV, and the details of two referees as part of your online application.
The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 06th June 2025.
Interviews are likely to take place during the week commencing 16th June 2025, and will be face to face wherever possible but with the option to interview via Microsoft Teams if required. For further information on the post, please contact Dr Filipa Simoes: filipa.simoes@idrm.ox.ac.uk.
Applications are particularly welcome from women, black and minority ethnic candidates who are under-represented in academic posts in Oxford.

Follow us:

Stay connected with us on LinkedIn, Bluesky and Instagram to learn more about our work and culture. Informal enquiries about the role may be directed to the DPAG HR Team: hr@dpag.ox.ac.uk.

DPAG's Statement of Inclusion:

We, as a Department and Community, will be considerate and welcoming of all people, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and socio-economic background. We acknowledge societal inequalities and how these impact us, and those around us, personally and professionally. Our policies, practices and Respectful Behaviours Framework underpin this commitment.

DPAG and Sustainability

We have signed up to The Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) and Green Impact, actively implementing and encouraging eco-friendly practices that reduce waste, promote energy efficiency, and promote bio-diversity. See the job description for more detail.