Research Associate in Gene Delivery and Cell Biology

Job Title:Research Associate in Gene Delivery and Cell BiologyJob Reference:REQ250515Date Posted:Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMTApplication Closing Date:Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMTLocation:LoughboroughPackage:Specialist and Supporting Academic grade 6 from £35116 to £45413 per annum. Subject to annual pay award.

<b class=\"customHTML\">School of Science

We invite applications for an 18-month postdoctoral research associate position in gene delivery and cell biology. This multi-disciplinary Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard project, led by Dr. Amanda Pearce at Loughborough University, aims to develop polymer vesicles for site-specific delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 to the brain as a novel therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).

The successful candidate will join a collaborative team with expertise in synthetic organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, nanoparticle formulation, biochemistry and cell biology. The objectives are to screen polymer vesicle formulations to determine optimum chemistries for high encapsulation and stability of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing constructs. A variety of 2D and 3D cell culture assays will be employed (including an in vitro blood-brain barrier model in collaboration with the University of Manchester) to determine hit formulations with selective localisation within diseased brain cells.

Building on our recent development of polymer vesicles for the encapsulation of macromolecular chemosensors, the project aims to:

<ul class=\"customHTML\">Generate a CRISPR/Cas9 system targeting enhanced green fluorescence protein (GFP) Encapsulate this construct within a library of polymer vesicles Assess encapsulation and stability using a range of biochemistry assays, and cell uptake in iPSC neurons and astrocytes with AD-specific mutations Analyse chemical and biological experimental data to generate structure-property relationships guiding further targeted vesicle development Evaluate ability for hit vesicle formulations to cross the blood-brain barrier in a transwell model using iPSC-derived neurovascular cells

The position is ideally suited for an ambitious early career researcher with a strong background in biochemistry and/or cell biology assays. You will be proficient in mammalian cell culture and microscopy and comfortable in performing experiments in controlled/sterile conditions. Experience with DNA/RNA, gel electrophoresis, protein expression and particle sizing techniques is advantageous. The successful candidate will be motivated to advance novel polymer CRISPR/Cas9 delivery vehicles, collaborating with a skilled team to progress research in AD treatments.

This is a full-time 18-month position to commence on or after 6<sup class=\"customHTML\">th October 2025.

Please note that the interviews are scheduled to be held in the last week of July.

For relevant publications please see:<em class=\"customHTML\"> Macromolecules,  2024, 57, 4062-4071; <em class=\"customHTML\">Adv. Healthc. Mater. ,2020, 9, 2000892; <em class=\"customHTML\">Bioconj. Chem. , 2019, 30, 2300–2311. 

More information about the Pearce Group can be found here:

For further details contact Dr Amanda Pearce at 

For more information refer to the<a class=\"fui-Link ___1q1shib f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1s184ao f1mk8lai fnbmjn9 f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn\" > Job Description and Person Specification.