Research Fellow in Biophysics of Cancer

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge?

Do you have an established background in biological physics?

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

We are looking for a Research Fellow to work on an EPSRC-funded project with Dr Sally Peyman, in the Molecular and Nanoscale Physics Group, investigating biophysical mechanisms of drug resistance in solid tumours.

Pancreatic cancer is hallmarked by a dense, rigid tumour mass similar to that of scar tissue. The mechanical stiffness of the tumour is thought to directly contribute to treatment failure and poor survival rates. Yet despite the importance of these biophysical factors, they are rarely taken into account in drug development assays.

You will join an interdisciplinary team focussed on developing microfluidic organ-on-chip models for studying biophysical mechanisms of drug resistance in pancreatic cancer. Our goal is to investigate how the mechanical rigidity of pancreatic microtumours impedes drug delivery and develop tumour-on-chip devices that accurately mimic these physical barriers. Developing tumour-on-chip platforms will enable us to better understand why so many drugs fail in the clinic and provide advanced testbeds for the development of new therapies that overcome these drug delivery challenges.

You will use a range of experimental techniques, including cutting edge Atomic Force Microscopy and rheology for mechanical characterisation of microtumours, cell culture and staining to understand the molecular make-up of microtumours, and microfluidic design and fabrication for the development of advanced tumour-on-chip devices. Using these techniques, you will explore the relationship between the biophysical properties of pancreatic cancer microtumours cultured in a tumour-on-chip device and how these relate to resistance to drug penetration. With this new knowledge, you will investigate novel therapeutic approaches to breaking down these barriers and improving treatment outcomes.

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

Dr Sally Peyman , Academic Fellow

Tel: +44 7734669483

Email: s.peyman@leeds.ac.uk

Please note: If you are not a British or Irish citizen, from 1 January 2021 you will require permission to work in the UK. This will normally be in the form of a visa but, if you are an EEA/Swiss citizen and resident in the UK before 31 December 2020, this may be your passport or status under the EU Settlement Scheme.