Interested applicants are invited to apply directly at the NUS Career Portal

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We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Job Description

The Mechanobiology Institute (MBI) at the National University of Singapore is a multidisciplinary institute dedicated to developing new paradigms in biomedical research. We focus on the quantitative analysis of dynamic functional processes in pathogenesis, tissue regeneration, and function.

We seek to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to work on a collaborative project between Dr Yin Loon Lee, MBI co-PI, at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and Dr Alexander Bershadsky at the MBI. The research fellow will primarily be embedded in the multidisciplinary environment at the MBI, while having the opportunity to work with colleagues in A*STAR to place their work in a translational context. In line with Dr Lee's experience moving mechanobiology projects from bench to potential therapeutics, the successful candidate will work on a basic science project with biomedical relevance. Specifically, insights gained from the project could lead to identification of novel drug targets for fibrotic diseases, which has been suggested to contribute to 45% of mortality in the developed world

The overarching scientific goal will be to understand cytoskeletal connections between the nucleus and various forms of cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesions through the study of phenomena requiring coordination of these seemingly distal molecular complexes. We will focus on directed cell migration, especially durotaxis or the migration of cells along stiffness gradients. Durotaxis has been proposed to contribute to the mechanical feed-forward loop driving tissue fibrosis, where ECM-secreting myofibroblasts preferentially migrate to the stiffer fibrotic ECM at the injury site, resulting in formation of even stiffer ECM. It has been further suggested that interrupting durotaxis could have therapeutic benefit in fibrotic diseases and cancers, underlying the importance of understanding molecular regulation of durotaxis

The successful candidate will leverage the MBI's core capabilities in live cell microscopy, bioengineering, and molecular genetics to establish and interrogate appropriate experimental systems, while monitoring insights arising from parallel genetic, biochemical and molecular work in disease models at A*STAR.

Qualifications

• A PhD in cell biology, biophysics, bioengineering, or similar fields
• Demonstrated expertise in cellular mechanobiology, molecular biology and genetics, microscopy, and image analysis
• Prior knowledge generating and working with cell culture substrates with well-defined biophysical properties in 2D and 3D would be advantageous
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

To apply

Interested applicants should include the folllowing in their online applications:

1. a cover letter describing their research experience and interests
2. their Curriculum Vitae
3. the contact information for at least two academic referees

Scientific enquiries can be sent to Dr Yin Loon Lee at yinloon_lee@asrl.a-star.edu.sg.

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.