Research Fellow

**Position Details**

Department of Metabolism and Systems Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine and Health

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Grade 7, salary £41,421

Grade: 7

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to January 2028

Closing date: 27th November 2024

**Background**

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest family of membrane receptors, are deeply involved in physiology and disease and are major drug targets. The Calebiro lab at the University of Birmingham develops innovative optical methods to monitor GPCR signalling in living cells with unprecedented spatio-temporal resolution (see e.g. Grimes et al. Cell 2023 PMID: 37146613; Sungkaworn et al. Nature 2017 PMID: 29045395). Using this approach, they uncovered several novel mechanisms of GPCR signalling and their involvement in physiology and disease, including the paradigm-changing discovery that GPCRs signal from intracellular membranes (Calebiro et al. PLoS Biology 2009 PMID: 19688034; Godbole Nature Communications 2017 PMID: 28874659).

**Role Summary**

We have an exciting opportunity for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join our vibrant multidisciplinary research team in the Department of Metabolism and Systems Science (MSS) and Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE) of the University of Birmingham.

This post, funded by the UKRI-Medical Research Council (MRC) for up to 3 years, is to investigate the fundamental cellular and molecular mechanisms that control storage and release of fatty acids in adipocytes in the context of obesity-related metabolic disorders. This project builds on our preliminary results that free fatty acid receptors 2 and 4 (FFA2/4), members of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family, are located and function inside cells close to lipid droplets to sense locally released fatty acids and inhibit lipolysis.

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team and in collaboration with Professor Graeme Milligan, University of Glasgow, and Professor David Hodson, University of Oxford, you will utilise state-of-the-art cell signalling, pharmacology and advanced imaging techniques with innovative cell and mouse disease models to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and physiological relevance of this novel potential modality of ‘intracrine’ FFA2/4 signalling.

This is an opportunity for a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Scientist to conduct basic research with potential for pre-clinical translation. The successful applicant will be responsible for clarifying the organisation of FFA2/4 signalling nanodomains associated with lipid droplets using cell signalling and advanced microscopy (super-resolution, CLEM, etc.) in vitro, its physiological relevance and its potential exploitation for the therapy of metabolic disorders.

The successful applicant will have access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities for cell signalling, advanced microscopy and image analysis of the COMPARE Advanced Imaging Facility.

They will hold a bachelor and/or master degree in Biology, Biochemistry, or related area, a PhD (or near to completion) on a relevant topic or equivalent and, preferably, previous experience in cell signalling, receptor pharmacology and/or fluorescence microscopy. Enthusiasm for interdisciplinary experimental research, team work and a drive to learn new skills are essential for this position.

**Main Duties**
- Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
- Contribute to writing bids for research funding
- Analyse and interpret data
- Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars, etc.
- Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students
- Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
- Undertake management/administration arising from research
- Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
- Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
- Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews*
- Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters*
- Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research*
- Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines*
- Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

**Person Specification**
- Bachelor and/or master degree in Biology, Biochemistry or related field and, normally, a PhD (or near to completion) or