Senior Research Assistant in Biosciences

About The Role

Joining a dynamic, multi-disciplinary team, you will support the project Investigators to drive forward research activities for the "Living Manufacture: An Engineered Living Materials based Fabrication Platform" project. We're in search of a dedicated, motivated, and innovative researcher to join the Living Construction research group in Northumbria University for this EPSRC-funded project. The primary objective of this project is to harness the unique capabilities of synthetic biology and microbial biotechnology to exert genetic control over bacterial cellulose (BC) production, aiming for modifications, enhancements, and customization through a streamlined process.

This is a The RA will focus on integrating synthetic biology and microbial biotechnology components into designs for a 3D bioreactor, whilst also optimising co-culturing methods and post-growth materials testing and characterisation. These materials will incorporate biologically derived colours, patterns, and additives, recording and optimising the resolution of these functions within the material using inducible promotors will be another goal associated to this role.

This project involves close collaboration with two key academic partners: the synthetic biology research group led by Prof Tom Ellis in Imperial College London, and the engineered biotechnology group led by Prof Harrison Steel at Oxford University. Additionally, the RA will work closely with other RAs on the project at Northumbria with expertise in fabrication of bioreactors, biodesign, materials testing, and co-culturing.

This a fixed term role, for a duration of 20 months. 

About The Project

Recently Engineered Living Materials (ELMs) is an emerging new research area where synthetic biology is used to make new materials that benefit from the technologies of living cells. Through cell reprogramming of organisms like E. coli, cellulose-producing bacteria, and protein-secreting yeasts, we've demonstrated the feasibility of efficiently growing novel materials with advanced functionalities.

Drawing on our expertise in synthetic biology and bacterial cellulose (BC) ELMs, our vision is to create a new type of biofabrication system based able to self-assemble cellulose based composite materials under the control of genetic programming and a robotic fabrication system.

A fermenter filled with cellulose producing bacteria is fed and incubated to grow thick (+8cm) cellulose pellicles. As the pellicles grow the fermenter is fed with engineered modifying bacteria which are genetically programmed to respond to environmental inputs (including light and chemical triggers) by producing molecules which modify the cellulose properties (including its physical properties and pigmentation). A robotic system alters the chemical and light inputs such that the material is modified, as it grows and in three-dimensions, creating functionally graded complex composite materials. Our project provides the basis for a new fabrication technology with similarities to a 3D printer, but where the material is grown and where function rather than form is printed into the material.

Such a system may have applications for a wide range of domains from apparel to lab grown meat and would also enable the production of a new generation of ELMs which retain living or life-like properties. Cellulose is also biodegradable and can be converted back into glucose for a new fabrication process to begin.

The project also has the broader aim of introducing a new era of 'Living Manufacture'', in which living cells are programmed to produce materials and structures at scale, potentially replacing environmentally costly traditional manufacturing processes.

About The Team

This research project will be delivered within the Living Construction research group in Northumbria University and also will work closely with the synthetic biology research group led by Prof Tom Ellis in Imperial College London, and the engineered biotechnology group led by Prof Harrison Steel at Oxford University. Living Construction group is one of research groups in the Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment (HBBE, http://bbe.ac.uk/living-construction/),  which focuses on the production of functional materials through biological fabrication processes. One key area of research is the exploration of the engineered living materials for a wide range of applications including the construction, fashion and biomedicine.

The RAs will be based in the HBBE labs in the Department of Applied Sciences at Northumbria University (https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/academic-departments/applied-sciences). 

About You

Applicants should hold a PhD (or equivalent) in synthetic biology, biomaterials, biofabrication, microbiology or biodesign. Being familiar with material-producing non-model microbes and co-culturing methods and material characterization is desirable. You should be able to work independently and as part of a team, and also possess multitasking abilities. Excellent communication (written and oral) and organisation skills are essential, and evidence in initiating and delivery scientific publication is required.

Further information about the requirements of the role is available in the person specification. 

If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Prof Meng Zhang (meng.zhang@northumbria.ac.uk).

To apply for this vacancy please click 'Apply Now'.  Your application should include a covering letter and a CV.
 

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