Research Associate in Brain Organoids and Organ-on-Chip Platforms

Are you a talented cell and developmental biologist ready to work at the interface of biology and microelectronics? As a Research Associate in Brain Organoids and Organ-on-Chip Platforms, you will lead the biological arm of a new programme combining semiconductor-based lab-on-chip technology with human brain organoids.

You will bring the biological expertise that our engineering team needs, and in return gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge chip technology, co-author high-impact interdisciplinary papers, and help shape the direction of a growing research area. Within two years, you will deliver validated brain-organoid protocols and device-compatible culture methods for our semiconductor platforms.

The group of Prof. Pantelis Georgiou develops lab-on-chip systems based on semiconductor technology. We design, fabricate and test integrated sensing and microfluidic platforms built on CMOS technology, taking ideas from concept through to working devices for biological applications, clinical validation and translation. We are now extending this work to complex three-dimensional human brain organoid models, in collaboration with colleagues in Medicine. Imperial offers an outstanding environment for this work, with access to world-class cleanroom, imaging and bioengineering facilities and a strong community in engineering, neuroscience and stem cell biology.

You will establish and characterise robust brain organoid culture in our laboratory and work alongside engineers and device physicists to integrate organoids onto chip platforms, creating organ-on-chip systems that enable sensing, stimulation and monitoring of organoids.

You will be responsible for:

• Generating and maintaining brain organoids (for example cortical or region-specific organoids) from human pluripotent stem cells, with reproducible quality control
• Characterising organoids using immunostaining, imaging, gene expression and functional assays
• Working with engineers to design biocompatible chip interfaces, culture conditions and protocols for long-term organoid culture on devices
• Testing and validating device performance with living tissue, and feeding results back to the design cycle
• Analysing and interpreting data, and writing papers, reports and conference presentations
• Helping train and supervise PhD and MSc students in cell culture and biological methods
• Contributing to grant applications and collaborations

You will hold (or be about to obtain) a PhD in a relevant discipline such as stem cell biology, neuroscience, developmental biology, tissue engineering or a related field.

You will have demonstrable hands-on experience of culturing human pluripotent stem cells and generating 3D neural models, and you will be keen to work in a multidisciplinary team with engineers. You do not need a background in electronics or microfabrication; we will teach you what you need, however prior experience with commercial MEA platforms may be useful.

You will be an excellent communicator, with the ability to manage work to deadlines.