Research Assistant/Research Associate (Fixed Term)

University of Cambridge - Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology

Location: Cambridge

Salary: £33,002 to £46,049 per annum

Hours: Full Time

Contract Type: Fixed-Term/Contract

Placed On: 11th September 2025

Closes: 28th September 2025

Job Ref: NQ47157

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) to join the BioElectronic Systems Technology Group and work on the ERC CODEBREAKER project, a cutting-edge initiative aimed at developing a conformal electronic device toolkit to interface with the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and elucidate functional pathways of the gut-brain axis (GBA) in health and disease.

The project will build on recent technological advances in the group to enable unparalleled monitoring of GI function, including enteric nervous system (ENS) activity. Advanced monitoring techniques will be applied across a range of biological models from advanced tissue-engineered systems to perfused ex vivo tissues and in vivo experiments depending on the retention of functionality. These platforms will provide spatio-temporal insights into GI physiology and its systemic effects, with potential applications in diagnostics, therapeutics, and fundamental neuroscience.

We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic candidate with a PhD in enteric neurobiology. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience working with the ENS and a deep knowledge of the field. A Home Office Personal Licence for mouse work is essential, along with strong experimental skills including husbandry, tissue dissection, and in vivo assays. Expertise in ENS-specific techniques such as gut dissections, physiological assays, immunostaining, spatial transcriptomics, sequencing, electrophysiology, and microscopy is required. Experience with confocal, light sheet, and 2-photon microscopy applied to ENS questions is essential, as is proficiency in image analysis.

The successful candidate will also have a track record of training others in ENS biology and experimental techniques, and demonstrate general research skills such as experimental design, critical thinking, teamwork, and scientific communication. A commitment to academic research and a desire to make a positive impact on science and society are key attributes.

The PDRA will be expected to contribute to the development of independent research tasks under the project, manage key experimental setups, and collaborate closely with engineers, biologists, and external partners. The role holder will join a multidisciplinary team working at the interface of bioelectronics, tissue engineering, and neurobiology.

The successful candidate will be based in the Department of Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge, working under the supervision of Professor Róisín Owens. The department offers world-class facilities and a vibrant research environment, with strong links to clinical and industrial partners.

Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will initially be appointed as a Research Assistant and promoted to Research Associate upon award.

The successful candidate would start on November 1st, 2025.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click the 'Apply' button above. Please quote reference NQ47157 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.