The role
This exciting Research Assistant/Associate opening is looking for an expert DNA/RNA nanotechnologist to work as part of a highly interdisciplinary, multi-national recently founded H2020 grant on “AI-enabled RNA nanotechnology DElivery SysTem for INformATION transfer into cells”. The candidate will become a member of the ICOS Research Group (
https://ico2s.org), which has state-of-the-art DNA/RNA and microbiology experimental facilities as well as computational infrastructure. The candidate will work under the direction of Prof. N. Krasnogor and Dr. E. Torelli.
You will have the opportunity to carry out laboratory-based research on novel nanocargo packaging & delivery molecular systems using RNA/DNA based origami, DNA/RNA strand displacement and molecular computation with the purpose of ferrying information in to and out of cells. The information to be transfer to/from cells could be any data encoding, e.g., sequences of 0s & 1s representing images or books as well as therapeutic proteins mRNA.
This project will involve working with computer scientists on the definition of informational, biological, chemical & physical constraints for the DNA/RNA based nanocargo packaging & delivery systems as well as the experimental aspects of their in vitro implementation and of cell transformations for their utilisation in vivo. You will seek to utilise the whole gamut of DNA/RNA nanotechnology and molecular biology techniques to generate, store, and retrieve nanocargo into/from the molecular packaging & delivery system you will design and then test its functioning within prokaryotes and eukaryote cells. You will have the opportunity to work closely with computational scientist, bioinformaticians, chemists and physicists and you will have access to a state-of-the-art nano-bio technology laboratory.
You will also work collaboratively with other biologists, nanotechnologists and scientific computing experts in the wider consortium of 7 partners from the UK, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Germany and Spain to achieve the project’s goals and, in particular, to achieve the milestones set out for Newcastle within the project. You will keep excellent records of all laboratory experiments, procedures, protocols, workflows and outcomes, enabling reuse, interpretation by team members and delivery of project milestones. You will be responsible for reporting to the consortium and publishing the work done on the highest quality venues and presenting it where required.
We are seeking to appoint an individual with demonstrable communication skills and who is a consummate team player. You should have experience in producing experimental outputs efficiently and of a consistently high quality. We are looking for an enterprising individual who can evidence success.
This position is available on a full time, fixed term basis, to start immediately and is tenable for 24 months from start date, or until the official project end date, whichever is soonest.
For any informal enquiries please contact Prof. Natalio Krasnogor, Professor of Computing Science and Synthetic Biology via email:
[email protected] For more information about School of Computing and our research, please click here.
Key Accountabilities
Shape
Design, experimentally implement, test and characterise novel nanocargo packaging & delivery molecular systems into/out of cells
Utilise RNA/DNA based origami, strand displacement and molecular computing to achieve the point above
Development of repeatable experimental protocols for the above demonstrating the successful operation of the packaging & delivery system in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes
Contribute to the design of scalable, high-throughput automated workflows to speed-up laboratory operations for points 1, 2, 3
Contribution to writing scientific papers and project reports
Oral presentations at scientific meetings, workshops, conferences as well as business & consortium meetings
The Person (Essential)
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Demonstrable laboratory experience with DNA/RNA nanotechnology, e.g. origami, strand displacement systems, molecular computing, wireframed nano structures, in vivo/in vitro nano motors/actuators, in vitro/in vivo nano-sensors, genetically encoded materials, etc
Demonstrable laboratory experience in synthetic biology, microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, e.g., DNA sequencing and synthesis, plasmids and chromosomal manipulation techniques, reverse transcriptases, flipases, CRISPR/CAS system, CRISPR prime , integron systems, operons design and assembly, DNA replication, stability, data encoding/decoding in DNA/RNA, cloning and transformation in Bacillus spp., E. coli, S.cerevisiae, P. pastoris, CHO cells, etc.
Publication of work in peer-reviewed journals
Desirable
Demonstrable experience in laboratory automation
Demonstrable experience of, or at least an understanding of, AFM and fluorescence microscopy and it application
Use standard bioinformatics and statistical computer programs to analyse laboratory data, e.g., via Python, Ruby or Java programming languages
Demonstrable experience working with computer scientists, mathematicians, modellers or colleagues of a different discipline
Presentation of work at group meetings scientific events
Attributes and Behaviour
Excellent communication skills both oral and written (e.g technical reports, papers, presentations, pitches, etc)
Capacity for original thought and independent action
Enthusiastic, hardworking and goal-setter
Ability to interact with people from different disciplines and work as part of a team
Punctual and generally dependable
Desirable
Communication skills with the general public
Qualifications
PhD awarded in nanotechnology, synthetic biology, biotechnology biochemistry or a very closely related discipline
Candidates must be able to spend time away from Newcastle visiting collaborators' labs and attending business meetings outside Newcastle, including international conferences and industrial partners
