Research Associate (Fixed Term)

The BioNano Engineering Group, led by Prof Ljiljana Fruk, is seeking an outstanding Postdoctoral Research Associate to join an exciting interdisciplinary project focused on the development of photonic polymeric nanoparticles for the restoration of damaged neuronal pathways in blinding eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.

The project (NanoFlash) is funded by European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder Open programme and is an international collaboration involving researchers from Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, and the UK.

With an ageing global population, the burden of vision loss is increasing rapidly, highlighting the urgent need for safe, affordable, and minimally invasive next-generation retinal therapies. NanoFLASH addresses this challenge through the development of soft injectable nanoactuators (actNPs) designed to selectively target rod/cone ON bipolar cells and restore light-driven neuronal activity within the ON/OFF visual processing system.

The project will explore three complementary strategies for the design of actNPs:

• Self-assembly of chemically modified polymeric precursors
• Core@shell structuring to generate bulk heterojunction nanoparticles that facilitate charge separation
• Surface functionalisation to enhance surface charge and selective binding to receptors in damaged retinal cells

The ultimate goal is to develop first-in-class polymeric nanoactuators, which could be scaled up using in-flow synthesis, that are biocompatible with retinal tissue, absorb across the visible spectrum, can bind to damaged receptors, and exhibit the stability required for therapeutic application.

The successful candidate will work within a highly interdisciplinary and international consortium, collaborating closely with computational scientists, physicists, experts in experimental neuro-ophthalmology, and industrial partners. This collaborative environment will support the translation of cutting-edge nanotechnology toward future clinical application.

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent upon the successful completion of a PhD. Candidates who have submitted their thesis but have not yet been awarded their PhD will be appointed initially at Research Assistant level, with progression to Research Associate upon conferment of the degree.

Fixed term position: the funds are available till 30th of April 2030.