Applications are invited for the post of Post-Doctoral Research Fellow based in the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey under the supervision of Professor Ali Mobasheri (http://www.surrey.ac.uk/vet/people/academic/ali_mobasheri/). You will work a dynamic new school and undertake original research in a vibrant, inter-disciplinary team with a strong and well-established international reputation. The post is funded for two years by the European Commission’s Framework 7 (FP7) programme. You will join the D-BOARD consortium, which brings together leading European academic institutions and SMEs to focus on the identification, validation and qualification of new biomarkers for degenerative and inflammatory diseases of joints.

http://www.d-board.eu/dboard/index.aspx
http://cordis.europa.eu/projects/rcn/105314_en.html
http://ec.europa.eu/research/health/medical-research/severe-chronic-diseases/projects/d-board_en.html
http://www.surrey.ac.uk/projects/d-board-biomarkers-osteoarthritis

This position is an ideal career advancement opportunity for a young scientist interested in Cartilage Biology and Biomarkers. You will use in vitro models of cartilage inflammation and metabolomic techniques to identify novel metabolic biomarkers of arthritis. This project will run in parallel with APPROACH, a five-year Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) funded project, which formally launched in June 2015. Therefore, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to network and collaborate closely with scientists in partnering pharmaceutical companies. Candidates with a strong background in cartilage biology are preferred, ideally with relevant publications and demonstrated experience of using in vitro models of joint inflammation and performing biochemical and functional assays.

Aims and objectives of the project:

• To establish explant cultures of articular cartilage and study metabolites released into the secretome of cartilage explants in response to inflammatory stimuli
• To discover novel metabolic biomarker panels using metabolomic approaches
• Carry out fit-for-purpose biomarker assays and consolidate biospecimens for standardized testing
• Deliver datasets to the collaborating bioinformatics team for analysis by data-mining

Relevant Tasks: To identify new metabolic biomarkers in the secretome of cartilage explants and primary chondrocytes exposed to OA-associated pro-inflammatory cytokines and adipokines using metabolomics technology. Relevant Deliverables: Identification of inflammation-associated metabolites in the secretome of various culture models exposed to inflammatory mediators. Summary of the practical skills required: Developing in vitro models of articular cartilage and synovium using bovine, equine and canine joints. Developing in vitro (co-culture) models mimicking the synovial joint, including primary fibroblast-like synoviocytes, primary chondrocytes (in monolayer or encapsulated in alginate beads), synovial explants, cartilage explants (from load-bearing joints) and any combination thereof.

In addition to your salary you will receive a generous annual leave entitlement, relocation assistance where appropriate, an attractive working environment, state-of-the-art research facilities, and access to a variety of staff development opportunities. Furthermore, our benefit package includes pension, childcare assistance and discounted membership to Surrey Sports Park.

The University of Surrey is a Top 10 UK university located on a beautiful, leafy campus in Guildford, just 30 miles from London and benefitting from excellent rail and road connections.

For an informal discussion or further details, please contact Professor Mobasheri (a.mobasheri@surrey.ac.uk).

Interview date: Week commencing 7 September 2015

Source: Jobs.ac.uk