The Role                                                                                                                                   

The Rosalind Franklin Institute (the Franklin) is a UK technology institute for life sciences, funded by the UK government through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). We work across disciplines, combining imaging tools with chemical and biological platforms to see life in new ways.

As a Post Doctoral Researcher at the Franklin, you will bring scientific knowledge and skills to deliver a specific research project and/or you will bring independent, creative science, or specific skills to a team delivering a project or program. Through this work, you will build scientific independence, develop new science and leadership skills, and establish a growing reputation externally.

If you are a creative scientist that wants to explore novel venues on quantitative imaging biology, then join us. Our lab is interested in Molecular Organisation of Cell Interfaces in the epithelial tissue and in pathology of intestinal diseases. We use super-resolution STED microscopy in combination with gut organoids, biophysics and chemical biology to uncover how epithelial cells organise in space and time under different physico-chemical environments to drive self-organisation processes that shape mesoscale structures enabling tissue function. To that end, we generate high amount of complex data across scales from molecules to mesoscale structures. Our interdisciplinary team includes biology, chemistry and physics.

Your role will be to lead a research project focused on quantitative imaging of epithelial cell biology and biophysics. Moreover, support and develop novel workflows of bioimaging analysis to quantify advanced imaging data generated by super-resolution STED microscopy, FLIM, FRET and FCS.  You will collaborate with other research institutions including the University of Oxford where we are also based. 

Candidates must hold a PhD in cell biology, biophysics, physics, mathematics or computer science along with experience in advance quantitative microscopy analysis. We are looking for a colleague with strong organisational and communication skills, with demonstrated laboratory experience. Experience with formulating research questions and devising strategies to address these questions would aid the individual selected for this role. We expect you to lead publications, contribute to research grant writing, collaborate with other members of the lab towards knowledge advancement.

This post would be ideal for a candidate who has developed a strong background on bioimaging analysis, quantitative biology or biophysics and would like to lead a project developing novel quantitative imaging pipelines and who would like to gain further experience in cutting edge techniques including super-resolution imaging, condensate biology and cell adhesion in epithelia tissue.

Key Responsibilities

Your primary task will be to lead a project on quantitative imaging biology. You will develop novel ways of analysing complex data (e.g. 3D volumetric STED) that will enable wider scientific discoveries and advance our understanding of biology. You will also develop novel pipelines of generating quantitative bioimaging data using various optics and electronic tools.

We encourage applicants with a broad experimental-analytical interest, as the job holder will contribute both to the development of new methods and their application to investigate the organisation and dynamics of cell interfaces.

As a Post Doctoral Researcher, you will also:

• Plan and conduct experiments, analyse and interpret results and supervised delivery of outputs (e.g., research reports, patent applications) in a scientific/technology area of interest.
• Work within a project team, contributing to wider projects around key Challenges.
• Lead major contributions to research outputs including papers, patents and both internal and external presentations.
• Support and develop others including day-to-day supervision of students or visitors in areas related to own research.
• Enhance your research through collaboration with other researchers and make active contributions to exchanging of ideas through your own network.
• Understand, interpret, create and communicate appropriately within a research context.
• Develop search and discovery skills and techniques.
• Be supervised by a Scientist/Senior Scientist in delivery of outputs, either in the context of a project or Challenge or as an early career development fellow.

Before submitting your application please ensure you read the Job Information Pack for full details of this role by clicking on the attachment at the bottom of this page.

The Rosalind Franklin Institute is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all. This job description set outs the skills and experience we believe are needed to be able to do this job but, research also tells us women are much more likely than men to take this list of requirements as absolute and self-select out of the process. If you think you can deliver this role then we want to hear from you, regardless of the boxes you did not tick.

Whilst the role is a Postdoctoral Research level and requires candidates to hold a PhD/DPhil (or equivalent), we may consider candidates who are close to completion of their PhD/DPhil qualification, in which case the initial appointment will be made at £36,500 per annum (to be increased on completion of the PhD/DPhil qualification).

In return we offer:

• 25 days holidays plus bank holidays and Christmas holiday shutdown
• Generous pension scheme (employer’s contribution currently up to 18%)
• Group Life Assurance (also known as Group Life Insurance or Death in Service)
• Hub building with state-of-the-art laboratories
• Training and development opportunities for staff at all levels
• Bus pass discount scheme and good transport links to Oxford and surrounding areas
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Access to employee discount platform (Perkbox)
• Occupational Health and wellbeing support including Employee Assistance (24/7 support and counselling)
• Health Cash Plan
• Subsidised canteen and food outlets on campus
• Free on-site parking
• Campus location in beautiful countryside with social and sports clubs open to staff

About us: The Rosalind Franklin Institute is a new national Research Centre, funded by the UK government through UK Research and Innovation, dedicated to bringing about transformative changes in life science through interdisciplinary research and technology.

Location: The Franklin is based in Harwell Campus, UK’s innovation hub and well-established as one of the leading science and innovation campuses in Europe. 

The Franklin’s underlying aim is to produce the best science for research today, and this means resolutely embracing a diverse team, who have a wide range of experiences, skills and knowledge to push forward on the innovative work our institution delivers. Both our work and our institution are better for it. For further information, view our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy. 

At the Rosalind Franklin Institute we welcome applications from all around the world!

To be considered for this role, please submit a CV and cover letter explaining why you think you are the right person for this job. Please including information about your education and work experience. 

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where every applicant has an equal opportunity to showcase their talents and abilities. This includes making adjustments for candidates with specific needs. Please contact us at recruitment@rfi.ac.uk to discuss your requirements confidentially.

Closing date: The closing date for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 4th May 2025.

Applicants should refer to our Candidate Privacy Policy