LOCATION: Trinity Centre for Bioengineering, Trinity College Dublin.
PROJECT TITLE: Primary Cilium-Mediated Mesenchymal Stem Cell Mechanobiology in Bone
QUALIFICATIONS:
- BEng/BSc in Biomedical/Mechanical Engineering or Cell Biology/Biochemistry
- PhD (completed or at final stages of completion) in Biomedical Engineering or PhD with substantial research of relevance to the subject of the position.
DESCRIPTION:
Osteoporosis arises when mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) fail to produce sufficient numbers of bone forming osteoblasts. A key regulator of MSC behaviour is physical loading, yet the mechanisms by which MSCs sense and respond to changes in their mechanical environment are virtually unknown. Primary cilia are nearly ubiquitous ‘antennae-like’ cellular organelles that have very recently emerged as extracellular sensors and thus, are strong candidates to play an important role in regulating MSC responses in bone. Therefore, the objective of this research project is to determine the role of the understudied primary cilium and associated molecular components in the osteogenic differentiation and recruitment of human MSCs in loading-induced bone adaptation. This work has implications for both bone tissue engineering and therapeutic development for diseases such as osteoporosis.
The successful applicant will work within a multidisciplinary environment in the Trinity Centre for Bioengineering (TCBE; http://www.tcd.ie/bioengineering/), and the Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre (AMBER, http://ambercentre.ie/) in Trinity College Dublin. The position is funded by an ERC Starting Grant.
THE HOEY LAB: Dr David Hoey is an Associate Professor in the School of Engineering in Trinity College Dublin and PI within the Trinity Centre for Bioengineering (TCBE). The aim of the TCBE is to promote and facilitate research and education in Bioengineering and related disciplines, and to ensure this research finds its way into the clinic in order to improve patient care. Dr. Hoey leads a multidisciplinary experimental mechanobiology research group where their goal is to integrate engineering mechanics into the understanding of the molecular basis of orthopaedic physiology and disease. More details can be found at http://www.mee.tcd.ie/biomaterials/People/DHoey.
DESIRABLE:
- Primary cell culture, stem cell/bone biology, immunocytochemistry, imaging, qRT-PCR, in-vitro mechanobiology models.
- Strong publication record.
- Demonstrated ability to mentor PhD students
CLOSING DATE: September 4th 2016; position will remain open until filled.
APPLICATION PROCESS: Please e‐mail your CV (including the names and contact details of 3 referees) to dahoey@tcd.ie with the subject heading ‘Postdoctoral Researcher in Mechanobiology’