Research Fellow in Retinal Tissue Engineering

The UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (GOS ICH) which, together with its clinical partner Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH), forms the largest concentration of children's health research in Europe. Our mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of children, and the adults they will become, through world-class research, education and public engagement.

We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the Eye Development and Repair Lab led by Prof Jane Sowden at the UCL GOS Institute of Child Health. The post holder will work on a collaborative project aiming to develop a photoreceptor cell patch that can be transplanted as a treatment for retinal dystrophies to restore sight loss. The post holder will differentiate human pluripotent stem cells into retinal organoids and identify conditions to grow photoreceptors on a micro-engineered scaffold, and test its biocompatibility and synaptogenesis in a pre-clinical model. Funding for this translational project has been made available through the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSHCC) and LifeArc. The post will be funded for up to 3 years in the first instance. This appointment is subject to UCL Terms and Conditions of Service for Research and Support Staff.

Candidates should have a PhD (or about to be awarded) in a relevant area and a BSc/MSc in a related life science subject (e.g. stem cell biology/ developmental biology/ genetics). The post would suit a postdoctoral researcher with a strong background and interest in retinal development and disease and therapeutic development. Experience in pluripotent stem cell differentiation and retinal organoids is highly desirable, as is experience in tissue engineering, animal model characterization and neurobiology. Skills in pluripotent stem cell tissue culture, molecular biology, histology, flow cytometry and multiphoton fluorescent microscopy are required. Candidates must have excellent oral and written scientific communications skills, and a commitment to taking a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving. Evidence of a successful track record in research and the ability to work independently as well as part of a team is required. Appointment at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be at Research Assistant Grade 6B (salary £33,184 - £34,976 per annum) with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis, depending on skills and experience)

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below: 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days) Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE) Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan Immigration loan Relocation scheme for certain posts On-Site nursery On-site gym Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service Discounted medical insurance Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more. A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page. If you have any queries regarding the vacancy please contact: Prof. Jane Sowden (j.sowden@ucl.ac.uk).

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. Our department holds an Athena SWAN Gold award, in recognition of our long-term commitment and 'beacon' status in advancing gender equality.