Research Associate in Host Compatibility and In Vitro Biological Models

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university. We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special. Research Associate in Host Compatibility and In Vitro Biological Models   Department/School: School of Clinical Dentistry Contract type: Fixed term until 30 June 2029 Advertising length (weeks):   4 weeks     Overview   We have an exciting opportunity to join the Mechanisms of Health & Disease research group within the School of Clinical Dentistry.

The role is part of a major new externally funded interdisciplinary programme led by Dr Thomas Paterson, bringing together bioengineering, microbiology, neuroscience and translational neurotechnology. The programme will explore whether engineered fungal networks can be developed as controllable bioelectronic interface materials. Fungal networks offer a distinctive biological platform: soft, three-dimensional structures that can be grown, modified and tested as part of future bioelectronic interface systems.

You will develop and apply in vitro and ex vivo biological models to test how candidate fungal materials interact with neural, glial, immune and barrier-relevant systems. The role will focus on host compatibility, inflammation, immune clearance, secreted-factor effects, neural-cell health and BBB/neurovascular model development. You will help determine whether engineered fungal candidates can coexist with biological systems without unacceptable toxicity, damaging inflammation, neural dysfunction or barrier disruption.

This role would suit a candidate with expertise in mammalian cell culture, neural or glial models, immunological assays, microscopy, tissue models, organoids, BBB/endothelial models or related in vitro systems. Experience with in vivo or ex vivo models would be useful, but the main requirement is hands-on experience with biological assays and quantitative readouts. You will work closely with colleagues in fungal engineering, bioelectronic interface testing and in vivo proof-of-concept work.

You will contribute to assay development, candidate screening, data analysis, milestone reporting, publications and biological safety and compatibility readouts for the programme. Main duties and responsibilities   Establish and maintain neural, glial, immune and/or BBB-relevant in vitro models for testing candidate fungal materials. Develop fungal exposure assays using parental, surrogate, engineered, live, arrested and non-viable fungal states.

Measure host compatibility using viability, toxicity, inflammatory, morphological and functional readouts in vitro and in vivo. Assess microglial activation, astrocyte response, cytokine/chemokine production and immune-cell clearance where appropriate. Test conditioned media or fungal secreted-factor effects on neural, glial, immune and barrier-relevant cells. Support traumatic versus less-traumatic exposure comparisons in cell or tissue models.

Support BBB/endothelial and vascular safety assays where relevant to the candidate progression pipeline. Carry out immunostaining, fluorescence/confocal microscopy, image analysis and quantitative data analysis. Coordinate with fungal engineering and bioelectronic interface teams to test candidate materials consistently. Assist with relevant research alongside project members to achieve the milestones and deliverables established in the project plan.

Design, conduct, analyse and document experiments within your area of expertise. Maintain detailed, accurate and timely records of experimental procedures, res