All multicellular organisms share a universal biophysical trait: they are composed of individual cells that move and adhere to one another. Similar to residents in an apartment building, cells exist within a highly social microenvironment, constrained by physical barriers. Cells must generate and regulate forces in order to interact and bind. While tremendous efforts have been made to determine the biochemical rules governing multicellularity, the dynamics of biological forces remain incomplete, limiting the translation of this knowledge into modern 3D biomanufacturing technologies.
Hypothetical model of particle adhesion increasing with increase fluid perturbation (Created with Gemini-Canvas)
Open until filled
To fulfil our mission, we shall be recruiting Two PhD candidates join a small and highly dynamic team of researchers (biophysicists, biochemists, computational biologists) to work on the following projects
Project 1 – Defining Biofluidic Laws Governing Multicellularity with Light
Addressing the critical question of how fluid dynamics and chemical ligands work cooperatively to drive cell communities to upregulate cell adhesion molecules (CAM) to self-organize into cohesive living tissues is essential for uncovering the core design principles that underlie multicellular systems. Understanding the biophysical laws of multicellularity necessitates transdisciplinary research and innovative experimental methods, including computational modelling, 4D volumetric imaging, and multi-scale 3D biological and photolithographic techniques. Effective fluidic control, combined with high spatiotemporal feedback for real-time monitoring of CAM expression and cellular clustering, will be essential for scalable multicellularity.
Project 2 – Multiscale Label Free Imaging
Quantitative measurement of multicellularity is a rapidly evolving field with significant implications for understanding biological systems, disease progression, and therapeutic development. The core idea is to obtain comprehensive label free nanoscopic to microscopic structural information on how single cells form multicellular structures and their dynamics across various spatial and temporal scales. Along with genetic and protein profiling, this aids our deep understanding of how cells interact within a tissue (micro-scale) and can inform how the entire organ functions (macro-scale).
Our expectations: Applicants are required to hold a 1st Class Honours or Master’s degree in the biophysics and/or biological sciences or other basic science disciplines in physics, chemistry and biology. A good command of the English language is necessary. We also welcome cell biologists with previous experience in advanced fluorescence microscopy as well as computational biologists with experience advanced image data analysis. At the ANU, we strongly support equal opportunity and diversity. We welcome all applicants regardless of sex, nationality, ethnic or social background, religion or worldview, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity.
We are committed to creating family-friendly working conditions.
We actively encourage applications by women.
Please send an electronic application including your CV, a short motivation letter and two references to Dr W M Steve Lee
