Research Associate in Cell Biophysics & Biological Active Matter (apply by 4 May)
Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position in the Jalaal Group at the University of Cambridge, Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP). The successful candidate will be part of an active and interdisciplinary team of physicists and mathematicians and work on experimental and theoretical investigations of intracellular dynamics in photosynthetic organisms including plants and dinoflagellates.
The project focuses on understanding how organelles (e.g, chloroplasts) sense, respond to, and adapt under varying environmental conditions, in particular different light regimes. Building on recent work from the group (Schramma et al. PNAS 2023,2024,2025), the research will combine advanced confocal and fluorescence microscopy, mechano-sensing assays, quantitative image processing and data analysis. The postdoc will also contribute to the theoretical side of the project, developing models grounded in active matter physics, non-equilibrium statistical physics, and the physics of adaptive and learning materials to interpret experimental observations.
The position offers a structured career development path within an active and ambitious research group and department. The postdoc will be involved in the supervision of students and contribute to the mentoring of junior researchers (including planning and delivering seminars), and play an active role in developing fellowship applications and research grant proposals.