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Vacancies within Condensed Matter Physics
There are currently 3 vacancies within Condensed Matter Physics:
| Title | Closes | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Research Assistant in single-molecule biophysics of DNA damage-induced transcription stress | June 16, 2025, noon | Research Grade 7: £38,674 -£46,913 per annum |
| Postdoctoral Research Assistant in single-molecule biophysics of DNA replication | June 16, 2025, noon | Research Grade 7: £38,674 -£46,913 per annum |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | July 1, 2025, noon | Research Grade 7: £38,674 - £46,913 p.a. |
Postdoctoral Research Assistant in single-molecule biophysics of DNA damage-induced transcription stress
Closes: June 16, 2025, noon; salary: Research Grade 7: £38,674 -£46,913 per annum
<div> <p></p><div>We are looking to hire an outstanding experimentalist for an exciting project at the interface of biophysics and biochemistry that has as its goals to understand the response of RNA polymerase to DNA damage-induced transcription stress.</div><br> <div> </div><br> <div>This post is fixed term for 3 years.</div><br> <div> </div><br> <div><strong>What are you going to do?</strong></div><br> <div> </div><br> <div>In this fully-funded project, you will:</div><br> <div>•         employ advanced biophysical instrumentation based on optical trapping or fluorescence  microscopy to study RNA polymerase and its response to DNA damage-induced transcription stress;</div><br> <div>•         develop an interdisciplinary skillset by acquiring a practical knowledge of protein purification, ensemble biochemistry, and sample preparation to support your biophysical studies;</div><br> <div>•         interact with biochemist and structural biology collaborators based at Oxford and in the Netherlands (Erasmus MC and Netherlands Cancer institute) in the context of collaborative projects;</div><br> <div>•         come up with suggestions to expand the interdisciplinary skillset as necessary for the benefit of the project;</div><br> <div>•         employ simulations and data analysis routines to analyze your data;</div><br> <div>•         help to establish a scientifically outstanding and warmly communicative interdisciplinary team at the University of Oxford;</div><br> <div>•         publish your results together with collaborators;</div><br> <div>•         have the opportunity to obtain teaching experience and improve your leadership skills while guiding undergraduate and graduate students;</div><br> <div> </div><br> <div><strong>About the project</strong></div><br> <div>Unperturbed gene expression is vital for correct functioning of cells. RNA polymerase II is the enzyme that transcribes genes into mRNA, enabling subsequent protein synthesis. Its transcriptional activity is continuously challenged by the occurrence of DNA damage, resulting from exposure of DNA to cellular metabolites and environmental agents. Bulky and helix-distorting DNA damage physically blocks the forward movement of transcribing RNA polymerase II. Such DNA damage-induced transcription stress can lead to severe cellular dysfunction, death and senescence, and is believed to be a major contributor to aging-related diseases, such as neurodegeneration, and neurotoxic side effects of chemotherapy. You will perform biophysical experiments to unravel the molecular mechanisms behind these aging-related phenotypes. A willingness to learn and employ biochemical approaches and interact with external collaborators in molecular biology and biochemistry at the University of Oxford and in the Netherlands is essential. In doing so, you will publish high-quality scientific papers to advance this exciting field.</div><br> <div> </div><br> <div><strong>Requirements</strong> For this innovative, interdisciplinary project, we are looking an excellent scientist with:</div><br> <div>•         a successfully completed Ph.D. degree (or close to obtaining) in quantitative biochemistry or biophysics;</div><br> <div>•         practical experience and scientific maturity in the above areas;</div><br> <div>•         strong experimental and quantitative skills;</div><br> <div>•         an interest in working in biophysics while interfacing with biochemist and structural biology collaborators (and developing a biochemistry skillset to enable this if not already present);</div><br> <div>•         an independent, well-organized, and reliable work style together with an ability and interest in working in a small team;</div><br> <div>•         good interpersonal communication skills and a strong interest in the broader fields of replication and transcription, thereby contributing to collaborative work and to our interactive lab culture;</div><br> <div> </div><br> <div>We look for friendly and driven colleagues to enrich our team. <strong>We would like to welcome our new colleague in the fall of 2025.</strong></div><br> <div> </div><br> <div><strong>Who are we?</strong></div><br> <div><strong>The Nynke Dekker Lab</strong> (https://nynkedekkerlab.web.ox.ac.uk) is a highly successful single-molecule biophysics research lab based at the University of Oxford. The lab focuses its studies on understanding DNA replication and related molecular motor-based processes from a quantitative perspective <em>in vitro</em>. The lab employs state-of-the-art biophysical techniques (e.g. advanced single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, optical and magnetic tweezers) together with in-house molecular biology and biochemistry. Performing experiments at the single-molecule level requires broad and integrated expertise; as such, we employ outstanding international scientists trained in biophysics, biochemistry and cell biology who work together enthusiastically as a multidisciplinary team. You will be part of this group and will interact actively with current members.</div><br> <div> </div><br> <div><strong>Information and application</strong></div><br> <div>For more information about these positions please contact Prof. Nynke Dekker, e-mail: nynke.dekker@physics.ox.ac.uk</div><br> <div> </div><br> <div>Only applications received before midday 16 June 2025 can be considered. You will be required to upload a brief statement of research interests, CV and details of three referees as part of your online application.</div> </div>Postdoctoral Research Assistant in single-molecule biophysics of DNA replication
Closes: June 16, 2025, noon; salary: Research Grade 7: £38,674 -£46,913 per annum
<div> <p></p><div>We are looking to hire an outstanding experimentalist for an exciting project at the interface of biophysics and biochemistry that has as its goals to understand the dynamics of eukaryotic DNA replication.</div><br> <div> </div><br> <div>This post is fixed term for 3 years.</div><br> <div> </div><br> <div><strong>What are you going to do?</strong></div><br> <div>In this fully-funded project, you will:</div><br> <div>•         develop and employ novel advanced biophysical instrumentation based on optical trapping or fluorescence  microscopy to study DNA replication;</div><br> <div>•         develop and employ simulations and data analysis routines to analyze your data;</div><br> <div>•         develop an interdisciplinary skillset by acquiring a practical knowledge of protein purification, ensemble biochemistry, and sample preparation to support your biophysical studies;</div><br> <div>•         come up with suggestions to expand the interdisciplinary skillset as necessary for the benefit of the project;</div><br> <div>•         help to establish a scientifically outstanding and warmly communicative interdisciplinary team at the University of Oxford;</div><br> <div>•         publish your results together with other biophysicists and biochemists on the team;</div><br> <div>•         have the opportunity to obtain teaching experience and improve your leadership skills while guiding undergraduate and graduate students;</div><br> <div> <br> <br> </div><br> <div><strong>About the project</strong></div><br> <div>During our lifetimes, we copy approximately a lightyear’s worth of DNA, and how the different components of the molecular machinery (the replisome) work together to achieve this successfully is an area of highly active research.  Here, you will take on the exciting challenge of <strong>understanding the <em>dynamics</em> of DNA replication</strong> by studying the activity of eukaryotic replisome at the single-molecule level. You will examine replisome composition, replisome motion dynamics, and the interplay between these two quantities; and examine how these change in the context of chromatin or obstacles on the DNA. To do so, you will design and employ novel biophysical instrumentation (e.g. optical tweezers, single-molecule fluorescence, microfluidics, cryo-electron microscopy) and analyze the resulting datasets using biophysical modelling. A willingness to learn and employ biochemical approaches and interact with external collaborators in molecular biology and biochemistry at the University of Oxford and elsewhere in the United Kingdom is essential. In doing so, you will publish high-quality scientific papers to advance this exciting field.</div><br> <div> </div><br> <div><strong>Requirements</strong> For this innovative, interdisciplinary project, we are looking a biophysicist, with:</div><br> <div>•         a successfully completed Ph.D. degree (or close to obtaining) in biophysics or microscopy;</div><br> <div>•         practical experience and scientific maturity in the above areas;</div><br> <div>•         strong skills and interest in building instrumentation to address biological questions;</div><br> <div>•         strong quantitative skills in data analysis and programming;</div><br> <div>•         professional experience with force spectroscopy methods (e.g. optical tweezers, magnetic tweezers, or atomic force microscopy) is a plus;</div><br> <div>•         interesting in developing a biochemistry skillset to enable interdisciplinary research;</div><br> <div>•         an independent, well-organized, and reliable work style together with an ability and interest in working in a small team;</div><br> <div>•         good interpersonal communication skills and a strong interest in the broader field of biophysics, thereby contributing to our interactive lab culture;</div><br> <div> </div><br> <div>We look for friendly and driven colleagues to enrich our team. <strong>We would like to welcome our new colleague in the fall of 2025.</strong></div><br> <div> </div><br> <div><strong>Who are we?</strong></div><br> <div><strong>The Nynke Dekker Lab</strong> (<a rel="nofollow" href="http://">https://nynkedekkerlab.web.ox.ac.uk</a> ) is a highly successful single-molecule biophysics research lab based at the University of Oxford. The lab focuses its studies on understanding DNA and RNA replication from a quantitative perspective both <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em>. The lab employs state-of-the-art biophysical techniques (e.g. advanced single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, optical and magnetic tweezers) together with in-house molecular biology and biochemistry. Studying the dynamics of DNA and RNA replication at the single-molecule level requires broad and integrated expertise; as such, we employ outstanding international scientists trained in biophysics, biochemistry, and cell biology who work together enthusiastically as a multidisciplinary team. You will be part of this group and will interact actively with current members.</div><br> <div> </div><br> <div><strong>Information and application</strong></div><br> <div>For more information about these positions please contact Prof. Nynke Dekker, e-mail:  <a rel="nofollow" href="http://">nynke.dekker@physics.ox.ac.uk</a></div><br> <div> </div><br> <div>Only applications received before midday 16 June 2025 can be considered. You will be required to upload a brief statement of research interests, CV and details of three referees as part of your online application.</div> </div>Postdoctoral Research Associate
Closes: July 1, 2025, noon; salary: Research Grade 7: £38,674 - £46,913 p.a.
<div> <p></p><div>Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate with expertise in advanced spectroscopic techniques applied to next-generation semiconductors for light-harvesting applications.</div><br> <div>The position is available for a fixed term of 36 months from time of appointment.</div><br> <div> </div><br> <div>This project is associated with a new EPSRC/UKRI-funded project <strong>entitled “Mastering charge-lattice interactions in novel semiconductors for renewable energy generation”</strong>. This collaborative project will tackle the complex array of exciting fundamental science arising in “soft” inorganic and hybrid semiconductors, seeking to develop new understanding to bridge the gap between existing models for well-established hard and soft semiconductors. The resulting discoveries will provide a blueprint for light-harvesting materials, guiding and accelerating the development of next-generation inorganic and hybrid crystalline semiconductors for the net-zero carbon transition. Materials explored will expand from an initial selection of semiconducting metal halides, chalcohalides and metal chalcogenides. The unusual properties displayed by many of these materials, including structural flexibility, strongly anharmonic lattice potentials, ionic migration, nanoscale assembly, or complex charge-screening processes are still poorly understood despite their critical impact on electronic properties and device performance. The project will provide a paradigm shift in our fundamental understanding of the charge-lattice interactions that govern such effects.</div><br> <div> </div><br> <div>This PDRA role will utilize several state-of-the-art spectroscopic techniques, such as transient photoluminescence, absorption & photoconductivity experiments and structural probes, to reveal new understanding of light harvesting materials with intermediate lattice softness. Through a powerful combination of advanced spectroscopic and structural techniques, this postdoctoral project will establish clear correlations and mechanisms linking core properties critical to efficient light-harvesting with basic material properties at an atomistic, electronic and structural level.</div><br> <div> </div><br> <div>Applicants should possess or be close to obtaining a PhD in physics, materials science, or physical chemistry. They should be highly experienced in advanced optical spectroscopic techniques and modelling, e.g. ultrafast (sub-picosecond) photoluminescence, absorption or photoconductivity techniques. Knowledge of semiconductor physics and a track record of working with next-generation novel materials for light-harvesting is essential.</div><br> <div> </div><br> <div>Applicants should be highly motivated and have excellent skills in working collaboratively as part of a team. A good track record of high-quality publications is essential.  Having the ability to direct your own research and interpret your results independently is a must.</div><br> <div> </div><br> <div>The University of Oxford and the Department of Physics offer an inclusive and diverse environment and workplace. We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds and genders to apply.</div><br> <div> </div><br> <div>The post-holder will have the opportunity to teach.</div><br> <div> </div><br> <div>Please email Laura Herz about any questions regarding this post (laura.herz@physics.ox.ac.uk)</div><br> <div> </div><br> <div>Only applications received through the online portal before midday 1 July 2025 can be considered. You will be required to upload a brief statement of research interests, CV and details of two referees as part of your online application.</div> </div>