Research Fellow in Cardiac Cellular and Tissue Electrophysiology

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge?

Do you have an established background in Biomedical Sciences?

Do you want to further your career in one of the UKs leading research intensive Universities?

Healthcare challenges in ageing populations are a major concern of the 21st century. Dysfunction of the heart is implicated as a causative factor which both limits quality of life and increases the risk of sudden death. This project will specifically investigate the mechanisms by which remodelling of structure-function relationships from the sub-cellular to whole-heart scales underlies cardiac dysfunction associated with ageing.

Using a joint experimental-simulation approach, the primary goals of the project are to: (1) Quantify ageing-associated remodelling of sub-cellular calcium-handling structures, and the extent to which it underlies cellular pro-arrhythmia and the loss of excitation-contraction-coupling; (2) quantify tissue remodelling at the local (mm) and global (cm) scales, and elucidate how these features interact with cellular remodelling to ultimately determine dysfunction; (3) assess the impacts of this remodelling on the safety and efficacy of pharmacological modulation.

As the research fellow, you will be responsible for carrying out the wet-lab investigations of this grant, working in parallel with the computational work developed by the PI. Expert-delivered training will be given in all of the experimental techniques required, providing substantial and comprehensive experience in multiple, widely-applicable techniques at multiple spatial scales, from super-resolution microscopy through patch-clamp and histology to optical mapping and diffusion-tensor MRI. There will also be opportunity to undertake training and develop skills and experience in other key academic areas, such as teaching, data handling, ethics and leadership.

You will be based in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Colman (MRC Career Development Award Fellow; http://physicsoftheheart.com/ ) and will work closely with collaborators at Leeds, across the UK and internationally. You should have a PhD (or be close to completion) in Biomedical Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Biophysics, Biochemistry, or a related discipline. You will have previous experience in small animal models, and experience in some of the following techniques: patch-clamp, super-resolution imaging, live-cell microscopy, optical mapping and histology. You will ideally be in a position where you are ready to take the lead on the wet-lab experiments and develop your management skills.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Dr Michael Colman , University Academic Fellow in Cardiovascular Sciences

Tel: +44 (0)113 343 0340, Email: m.a.colman@leeds.ac.uk