Research Associate in Precision Nanopipette Delivery for Mitochondrial Genome Engineering in White City

PIONEER (Programmable In-Organelle Nucleic-acid Entry, Expression and Retention) is an ambitious UK research consortium from Imperial College London, the University of Bristol, and the University of Glasgow, funded through the UK’s Advanced Research and Innovation Agency’s (ARIA) Precision Mitochondria programme, with a single bold goal: to build, from end to end, the ability to engineer the genome of mitochondria, the energy-producing compartments inside our cells. Mitochondria carry their own small genome, and reliably installing new, synthetic genetic material inside them has long been one of the great unsolved problems in biology. PIONEER sets out to crack it: to deliver large pieces of synthetic mitochondrial DNA across the mitochondria's notoriously difficult double membrane, switch on new genes inside, and make those changes stable over time. Ultimately, PIONEER seeks to demonstrate successful mitochondrial genome engineering in vivo and thereby open a new frontier for fundamental biology and for future therapies against mitochondrial disease.

What makes this work distinctive is how deliberately interdisciplinary it is. PIONEER brings together leaders in nanomaterials and drug delivery; automation, AI and machine learning for chemistry; synthetic cell engineering; single-molecule biophysics; advanced spectroscopy; genome engineering; and single-cell genetics. The whole programme is built so these fields feed into one another rather than working in isolation. You would be joining a large collaborative team of PDRAs and PhD students whose culture is designed to enable early-career researchers to achieve ground-breaking results by working fluidly between disciplines. It is a rare opportunity to work at the intersection of several cutting‑edge fields on a problem that will not only bring exciting new fundamental insights but also, if solved, would be a significant scientific breakthrough.

This particular research post will focus on developing and exploiting a precision nanopipette platform for the direct delivery of defined DNA payloads into individual mitochondria in living cells. The project will centre on integrating scanning ion conductance microscopy‑guided positioning with nanopipettes, enabling targeted deposition of mitochondrial DNA at single‑organelle resolution. You will work on calibrating delivery at the level of single molecules and at defined copy numbers, optimising mitochondrial access whilst preserving membrane potential and respiratory function, and establishing experimental workflows for quantitative dose‑response analysis. The role will also involve close collaboration with colleagues across PIONEER working on matrix entry metrology, synthetic mitochondrial DNA design, and downstream genetic validation.

What you would be doing

• Develop and apply SICM‑guided nanopipette methods for the targeted delivery of defined DNA payloads into individual mitochondria in living cells.
• Perform live cell imaging, membrane potential measurements, and functional assays to assess mitochondrial and cellular viability before, during and after delivery.
• Carry out electrophysiological and SICM‑based membrane recordings to establish robust contact, poration and delivery conditions at subcellular resolution.
• Work closely with collaborators across nanotechnology, mitochondrial biology, molecular genetics and clinical science to ensure experiments are integrated with wider programme objectives.

What we are looking for

• A PhD in Chemistry, Medical Sciences or a closely related discipline, or equivalent research experience.
• Practical experience within a research environment and a track record of publications in relevant peer‑reviewed journals.
• Experience in electrophysiology, patch clamp electrophysiology, cell‑attached single‑channel and whole cell recordings.
• Experience in live cell imaging and SICM‑based membrane recordings.
• Experience in cell, tissue and molecular biology.
• Experience in single‑cell functional assays.
• Experience of working effectively with multidisciplinary experimental, life science and clinical collaborators.
• Practical experience in automated functional data analysis pipelines.
• Excellent laboratory, organisational and communication skills, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

What we can offer you

• The opportunity to continue your career at a world‑leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity.
• Sector‑leading salary and remuneration package (including 41 days off a year and generous pension schemes).
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Further information

A start date from 01 September 2026 onwards is available. This is a full‑time post (35 hours per week). This role is for a fixed‑term contract for 36 months. Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as a Research Assistant.

Our Culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our web pages. Proud signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. We welcome applications from the Armed Forces community. Our values are at the root of everything we do, and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.