Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Laboratory-based Sciences

University of Oxford; Oxford; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Oxford is seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Laboratory-based Sciences to join the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (Headington). The role supports the EPSRC Beyond Antibiotics programme, focusing on ultrasound-driven therapies and bio-analytical assays using human-relevant infection models.

The successful candidate will work with a research group, guiding junior members and coordinating with investigators, reporting to the Co-Investigator and collaborating

Qualifications

• PhD/DPhil in bioengineering, biochemistry, biophysics, biotechnology or related field.
• Experience developing or using in-vitro or ex-vivo tissue models for therapy evaluation.
• Experience with ultrasound generation/detection probes and related instrumentation.

Responsibilities

• Carry out research for a discrete area of a large project in the Beyond Antibiotics programme.
• Provide guidance to less experienced members of the research group, including postdocs and students.
• Integrate physical instrumentation with biological models and perform bio-analytical assays.

Skills

Ultrasound techniques

Bioengineering models

In-vitro models

Bioanalytical data analysis

Education

PhD / DPhil in bioengineering, biochemistry, biophysics, biotechnology

Tools

Ultrasound probes

Signal/data analysis tools

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Laboratory-based Sciences

We are seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Laboratory-based Sciences to join the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the Department of Engineering Science (Headington). The post is funded by the UKRI-EPSRC Programme Grant and is fixed-term to 30 September 2027.

The post holder will work under the EPSRC-funded Beyond Antibiotics research programme and report to project Co-Investigator Dr. Dario Carugo. They will work collaboratively with other researchers in the programme, to specifically evaluate the effect of clinically viable physical stimuli (primarily biomedical ultrasound, with/without ultrasound-responsive agents) on the antimicrobial/antibiofilm efficacy of antibiotics and on the host tissue physiology. To achieve this, they will integrate physical instrumentation (such as ultrasound probes) with complex in-vitro biological models already developed within the research programme, and they'll perform bio-analytical assays on the treated biological models. The programme has a specific focus on the development of human-relevant models of urinary tract and wound-associated infections, which can be employed to evaluate or develop more efficacious and safer alternatives to conventional antibiotic treatments.

You will be a member of a research group with responsibility for carrying out research for a discrete area of a large project. You will also provide guidance to less experienced members of the research group, including postdocs, research assistants, technicians, and/or doctoral and project students.

You should hold a PhD/DPhil in the areas of bioengineering, biochemistry, biophysics, biotechnology, and/or other related discipline, and be experienced in the development and/or use of biological models for therapy evaluation purposes, such as in-vitro or ex-vivo tissue models. The post also requires experience in the use of ultrasound generation/detection probes, and the associated electronic instrumentation and signal/data analysis techniques.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Dr Dario Carugo at [e-mail]. For more information about working at the Department, see www.eng.ox.ac.uk/about/work-with-us/

Only online applications received before midday on 02 November 2026 can be considered. You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement, including a brief statement of research interests (describing how past experience and future plans fit with the advertised position), CV and the details of three referees as part of your online application.

The Department holds an Athena Swan Bronze award, highlighting its commitment to promoting women in Science, Engineering and Technology.

Tagged as: Life Sciences