Postdoctoral Research Fellow UNICIL Project
About The Role
Postdoctoral Research Fellow (INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY)
This Wellcome Trustfunded full-timepost is available on a fixed term basis from 01 November 2026 till 31 October 2028. The starting salary will be from £43,482 on Grade F, depending on knowledge, skills and experience. The Role Faculty of Environment Science and Economy
The faculty wishes to recruit a postdoctoral research fellow to join the group of Prof Kirsty Wan. This full-time role will be based at Exeter's Living Systems Institute and forms part of UNICIL (UNIty and diversity of MultiCILiary function), a Wellcome-funded international consortium of six research groups working to uncover the core biophysical principles of motile ciliary function across scales, from single cells to entire tissues.
The post-holder will lead the theoretical and computational strand of this programme at Exeter, developing multiscale models of how cilia are coupled to one another and how those couplings give rise to the diverse patterns of ciliary coordination observed across the eukaryotic tree.
About YouThe successful applicant will develop mathematical and computational models to investigate how cilia coordinate their beating and generate synchronised motion, and how this varies across organisms with different cellular architectures. The research will explore how coordination patterns influence biological functions such as swimming, steering, and fluid transport.
The post-holder will use a range of modelling approaches, from dynamical systems and coupled-oscillator models to hydrodynamic and elastohydrodynamic simulations, working closely with experimental data from advanced imaging and microscopy. A key objective will be to link model predictions to cell structure and behaviour and test these experimentally through collaborative work with consortium partners.
Applicants should have a strong background in applied mathematics, theoretical or biological physics, with expertise in dynamical systems, fluid dynamics, and scientific programming. Experience with numerical modelling, research software development, and data analysis is essential. The successful candidate will work closely with experimental researchers, contribute original ideas to the programme, and play an active role within the wider research consortium.
Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.Further information
Please contact Anne-Caroline Hebrard, UNICIL Project Manager,
About Us
Transform Your Career and Help Shape a Greener, Healthier, and Fairer Future Join the University of Exeter, a top 200 Russell Group university (QS & THE World University Rankings 2025), excelling in teaching (triple Gold rating, TEF 2023) and leading groundbreaking research in the beautiful southwest of England.
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What we can offer you:- Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines;
- Support teams that understand the University wide teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly;
- An Innovation,…
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