Research Associate in Host Compatibility and In Vitro Biological Models in Sheffield

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university. We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement, a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

We have an exciting opportunity to join the Mechanisms of Health & Disease research group within the School of Clinical Dentistry. The role is part of a major new externally funded interdisciplinary programme led by Dr Thomas Paterson, bringing together bioengineering, microbiology, neuroscience and translational neurotechnology. The programme will explore whether engineered fungal networks can be developed as controllable bioelectronic interface materials.

You will develop and apply in vitro and ex vivo biological models to test how candidate fungal materials interact with neural, glial, immune and barrier‑relevant systems. The role will focus on host compatibility, inflammation, immune clearance, secreted‑factor effects, neural‑cell health and BBB/neurovascular model development. You will help determine whether engineered fungal candidates can coexist with biological systems without unacceptable toxicity, damaging inflammation, neural dysfunction or barrier disruption.

This role would suit a candidate with expertise in mammalian cell culture, neural or glial models, immunological assays, microscopy, tissue models, organoids, BBB/endothelial models or related in vitro systems. Experience with in vivo or ex vivo models would be useful, but the main requirement is hands‑on experience with biological assays and quantitative readouts.

You will work closely with colleagues in fungal engineering, bioelectronic interface testing and in vivo proof‑of‑concept work. You will contribute to assay development, candidate screening, data analysis, milestone reporting, publications and biological safety and compatibility readouts for the programme.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain neural, glial, immune and/or BBB‑relevant in vitro models for testing candidate fungal materials.
• Develop fungal exposure assays using parental, surrogate, engineered, live, arrested and non‑viable fungal states.
• Measure host compatibility using viability, toxicity, inflammatory, morphological and functional readouts in vitro and in vivo.
• Assess microglial activation, astrocyte response, cytokine/chemokine production and immune‑cell clearance where appropriate.
• Test conditioned media or fungal secreted‑factor effects on neural, glial, immune and barrier‑relevant cells.
• Support traumatic versus less‑traumatic exposure comparisons in cell or tissue models.
• Support BBB/endothelial and vascular safety assays where relevant to the candidate progression pipeline.
• Carry out immunostaining, fluorescence/confocal microscopy, image analysis and quantitative data analysis.
• Coordinate with fungal engineering and bioelectronic interface teams to test candidate materials consistently.
• Assist with relevant research alongside project members to achieve the milestones and deliverables established in the project plan.
• Design, conduct, analyse and document experiments within your area of expertise.
• Maintain detailed, accurate and timely records of experimental procedures, results, data analyses and decisions.
• Work independently and alongside project partners to meet project objectives.
• Coordinate candidate testing across safety, control and function with other work packages.
• Contribute to candidate down selection, milestone evidence packs and progress reporting.
• Maintain equipment, software and supplies required for the project work.
• Follow mandatory Health and Safety policies and procedures, including COSHH, biosafety, GM requirements where applicable, and standard operating procedures.
• Liaise with the academic principal investigator and other academic co‑investigators, collaborators and technical staff.
• Carry out strategic planning over the duration of the project in conjunction with other project members, including planning and scheduling of experimental work and resource requirements.
• Read academic papers, journals, books and professional literature to understand the context of the project within the wider literature.
• Disseminate research findings to project staff and other stakeholders, including written project reports, presentations at project meetings and contributions to reports, manuscripts or future funding applications.
• As a member of staff, you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply.

Criteria

• PhD, or equivalent experience, in neuroscience, cell biology, immunology, tissue engineering, biomedical science, bioengineering, neurobiology, microbiology or a related discipline.
• Proven ability in research and evidence of research output.
• Practical experience in mammalian cell culture, primary cell culture, iPSC‑derived cell systems, organoids, co‑culture systems or related in vitro biological models.
• Experience with cell viability, toxicity, immunostaining, microscopy, cytokine or inflammatory readouts.
• Ability to design, run and analyse quantitative biological assays with appropriate controls.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information clearly.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research team.

Desirable

• Experience with fungal or microbial exposure assays, live‑cell imaging, calcium imaging, electrophysiology‑adjacent assays or in vivo/ex vivo biological systems.

Closing Date: 27/09/2026