2 Postdoctoral Researchers at John Innes Centre in United Kingdom

Applications are invited for two Postdoctoral Researchers to join the group of Prof Martin Howard in the Department of Computational and Systems Biology at the John Innes Centre based in Norwich, UK.

The Howard group constructs theoretical models of biological systems at the subcellular scale. Our approach is to construct simple models that can nevertheless make surprising and counter-intuitive predictions to be tested experimentally. The group's approach is highly interdisciplinary and relies extensively on techniques from statistical physics and applied mathematics, as well as on close collaboration with experimental groups. The group regularly publishes in the most prominent multidisciplinary journals, with recent papers in Science, Cell Systems, eLife and PNAS. Several previous members of the Howard group now hold independent faculty positions of their own, including in Amsterdam, Singapore and Munich.

The roles:
The aim of the first project is to use mathematical modelling to understand mechanisms of epigenetic memory switching and maintenance, focused particularly on the Polycomb epigenetic system. This work will give fundamental insights into cell fate dynamics. The second position focuses on understanding the role of liquid-liquid phase separation in regulating transcriptional dynamics. This project will also examine links between phase separation and conventional transcriptional and epigenetic control. In both projects, approaches will include spatiotemporal stochastic modelling, as well as analytic calculations. To help develop the models, state of the art, single cell experimental data will be available from our experimental collaborators (Mark Leake, Physics, University of York and Caroline Dean, John Innes Centre). Both projects will give the successful candidates an opportunity to work on fundamental biological processes in a truly interdisciplinary environment, with seamless collaboration with experimentalists.

Further details:
2 Postdoctoral Researchers at John Innes Centre in United Kingdom