UCL Department / DivisionDepartment of Mathematics
Location of positionLondon
Grade7
HoursFull Time
Salary
(inclusive of London allowance)£36,770 – £39,843 per annum
Duties and Responsibilities
The department has internationally recognised research groups in pure and applied analysis; fluid mechanics; mathematical physics; geometry and topology; algebra, number theory and combinatorics; mathematical modelling in biology, finance, industry and society.

Applications are invited for a full-time Research Fellow position to work with Dr Philip Pearce. The post is funded by a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship entitled “Multiscale modelling and control of soft biological matter: Linking biomolecular interactions to macroscopic function”. In this project, we will build a theoretical framework to predict how macroscopic biological functions emerge from the properties of mesoscopic structures (such as condensates, fibrils and tactoids) formed by interacting microscopic biomolecules. Relevant biological systems include bacterial biofilms and the blood in sickle cell disease. The postholder will focus on building coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to predict how mesoscopic properties emerge from molecular interactions.

The responsibilities of the post will include: carrying out vigorous, high-level research into the links between molecular interactions and macroscopic biological function, with a focus on molecular interactions, developing and running code to model biological systems using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, and interfacing with other team members and experimental collaborators.

This post is available from 10 January 2022 or as soon as possible thereafter.

This post is funded for 4 years in the first instance.
Key Requirements
Candidates should have a PhD in Mathematics, Physics, Biophysics, or relevant areas of Computational Biology or Chemistry. Candidates should either have a PhD or equivalent qualification, should be finalising their PhD or waiting for their viva date.

The successful candidate should have experience and knowledge of coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of interacting proteins, polymers or colloids, ideally in a biological context, as well as an experience of writing, developing and calibrating simulation code, ideally in a high-performance computing context. They should have a strong interest in biological research and a commitment to high quality research, as well as excellent interpersonal skills to facilitate participation in a research group, mentoring of PhD students, and communication with experimental collaborators. They should have the ability to analyse and write up results and to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences, and show commitment to UCL’s policy of equal opportunity and the ability to work harmoniously with colleagues and students of all cultures and backgrounds.

An outstanding candidate will have experience of research on liquid-liquid phase separation, ideally in a biological context, research on bacterial biofilms, and research on complex or non-Newtonian fluids, as well as experience of building mathematical models in close collaboration with experimental biologists. They will have an interest in performing experiments to validate simulations.

Please note: Appointment at Grade 7 is dependent on award and confirmation of a PhD (or equivalent). If this is not the case, initial appointment will be at Research Assistant Grade 6B, point 26 (salary £33,958 per annum inclusive of London allowance) with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis.
Further Details
A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

To apply for the vacancy please click on the ‘Apply Now’ button below.

If you have any queries regarding the vacancy or the application process, please contact Adrianna Mickiewicz (a.mickiewicz@ucl.ac.uk).

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Dr Philip Pearce, email: philip.pearce@ucl.ac.uk (Principal Investigator for grant).
UCL Taking Action for Equality
We will consider applications to work on a part-time, flexible and job share basis wherever possible.
Closing Date7 Nov 2021
Latest time for the submission of applications23:59
Interview dateTBC