Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Nanomaterials Mitochondrial Delivery

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822.

Contract type:
Fixed term contract until February 2028.

This job is part of an Advanced Research and Innovation Agency (ARIA) funded project. We are seeking an outstanding Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join an ambitious research programme addressing a major challenge in mitochondrial genome engineering: the efficient and reliable delivery of nucleic acids into mitochondria. Based in the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Birmingham, you will develop and characterise advanced nanomaterial-based delivery technologies for mitochondrial applications.

The role has a strong focus on nanomaterial engineering, chemical functionalisation, surface chemistry and physicochemical characterisation, alongside evaluation of nanomaterial interactions with cells and mitochondria. You will design, synthesise, functionalise and characterise nanomaterials, optimise their properties for biological delivery, and investigate their cellular uptake, biocompatibility and mitochondrial interactions. You will work closely with collaborators across a highly interdisciplinary ARIA programme spanning nanomaterials, nanomedicine, mitochondrial biology, genome engineering and synthetic biology.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the interface of chemistry, nanotechnology and biology to develop new technologies for mitochondrial genome engineering.

• A PhD, or near completion, in Chemistry, Nanotechnology, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomedical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Hands-on experience in chemical functionalisation or surface modification of nanomaterials.
• Experience in the synthesis, preparation or optimisation of nanoparticles or other nanomaterials.
• Experience with physicochemical and surface characterisation of nanomaterials , including assessment of particle size, morphology, surface chemistry, surface charge and colloidal stability using techniques such as electron microscopy, Raman/FTIR spectroscopy, XPS, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic light scattering and/or zeta potential.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to develop and optimise experimental methods.
• Ability to plan and organise research activities and contribute to project milestones.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary team.

• Carbon nanotubes or other high-aspect-ratio nanomaterials.
• Surface chemistry and biomolecular conjugation, including chemical conjugation of peptides, proteins or targeting ligands to nanomaterial surfaces and/or nucleic acid loading.
• Nanomedicine, drug or nucleic acid delivery.
• Mammalian cell culture and biological evaluation of nanomaterials.
• Nanotoxicology, cytocompatibility or safe-by-design nanomaterial development.
• Mitochondrial biology or organelle-targeted delivery.

Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Hanene Ali-Boucetta:

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment. We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £39,906