Postdoctoral Fellow - Priya Lab

Location:The Francis Crick Institute, London

Short summary

Our lab aims to understand how functional organs are built during embryonic development, an important problem in biology with implications for tissue engineering and birth defects. We study the developing zebrafish heart, which allows advanced optical, genetic, and biophysical manipulation. Using a systems biology approach, we integrate tissue mechanics, developmental genetics, transcriptomics, biophysics, and theoretical modelling to study how complex organs like the heart form in living embryos.

We are seeking a postdoctoral fellow interested in combining interdisciplinary approaches with excellent tractability of the zebrafish heart to study a long-standing problem – how organ form and function emerge during development. We are particularly interested in candidates with a strong background in advanced imaging, quantitative image analysis, and/or tissue morphogenesis and mechanics. If you are excited by the prospect of tackling fundamental biological questions in a collaborative and innovative environment, we encourage you to apply.

Key Responsibilities

By combining the unique strengths of zebrafish models with interdisciplinary approaches, we aim to address several fundamental questions in tissue and organ biology, including:

• How feedback between mechanics, cell fate dynamics, and geometry drives tissue patterning
• How 3D topological meshworks are shaped, constrained, and canalized
• How nuclear integrity is maintained in a developing, beating heart
• Physical principles of organ scaling and regeneration
• The role of bioelectricity in morphogenesis
• The interplay between mechanics and metabolism in heart morphogenesis

In this role, you will focus on one of these research areas, using advanced microscopy, image analysis, genetic and optical perturbations, and biophysical approaches. You will also collaborate closely with theoreticians.

The precise scope and objectives of the project will be tailored to your background and research interests.

About you

You will have:

• PhD in developmental biology/biophysics/cell biology or in the final stages of PhD submission.
• Strong expertise in advanced confocal and/or light sheet imaging.
• Strong expertise in quantitative image analysis approaches.
• Excellent molecular biology skills.
• Strong interest and experience in using interdisciplinary approaches in their research program.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

About us

The Francis Crick Institute is Europe’s largest biomedical research institute under one roof. Our world-class scientists and staff collaborate on vital research to help prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative conditions.

The Crick is a place for collaboration, innovation and exploration across many disciplines. A space where the brightest minds can pursue big and bold ideas and discover answers to crucial scientific questions. We support them in a dynamic environment which fosters excellence with state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting-edge facilities, and a creative and curious culture. We’ve removed traditional boundaries of departments, divisions and disciplines and instead have an open approach that supports every researcher. This gives us the freedom to take risks and carry out high-quality, pioneering research. Creating a space for discovery without boundaries helps us to turn our science into benefits for human health and the economy.