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DEPARTMENT OF ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY AND MUSCULOSKELETAL MEDICINE | TE TARI HĀPARAPARA ME TE WHAIORA UA-KĀHIWI
UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO, CHRISTCHURCH | ŌTĀKOU WHAKAIHU WAKA, ŌTAUTAHI
Mō te tīma/About our team
The University of Otago is New Zealand's oldest University and has a strong teaching and research tradition, rated 5 plus for quality by QS stars, and well-established national and international linkages. It is also one of New Zealand's largest universities, with over 20,000 students, assets in excess of $2.5 billion and 4,000 full time equivalent staff based in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland and Invercargill.
This is a fixed term position undertaking research for the Christchurch Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering (CReaTE) group within the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, in addition to the Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine, University of Otago Christchurch.
The CReaTE research group, internationally recognized for its high-impact research, investigates new techniques and technologies for engineering advanced biomaterials and complex 3-dimensional (3D) tissue models applied to musculoskeletal Regenerative Medicine.
Our interdisciplinary team of engineers, cell biologists, molecular biologists, polymer chemists and orthopaedic, and plastic/reconstructive surgeons work together across disciplines and in New Zealand’s most advanced Biofabrication and 3D Bioprinting Facility, combining in-vitro/in vivo culture techniques, adult human stem cells, advanced bio-ink and bio-resin design to develop translational Regenerative Medicine strategies, connecting with national and international collaborators and medtech/biofabrication industry.
Te mahi/The role
An outstanding opportunity exists for a talented early career scientist in the CReaTE Group. As a postdoctoral fellow, you will be working on a project focused on bioconvergence technologies in developmental engineering, using biofabrication technologies as your tool.
You will develop multifunctional tissue engineering approaches involving 3D bioprinting, scaffold fabrication, hydrogel bioinks and spheroid/organoid platforms to engineer cellular microenvironments for regenerative medicine applications. The development of novel hydrogel bioinks will centre around photoresponsive bioinks to modulate microenvironmental properties, and oxygen delivering materials for long-term cell culture, while tissue specific models will focus on cartilage, adipose, and intestinal tissue.
The work will involve applying the candidate’s experience in polymer/macromolecular chemistry with multiple 3D bioprinting technologies (extrusion, lithography/DLP, microfluidics, MEW) applied to existing novel light activated bioinks and biomaterials. You will adopt bioengineering, biomaterials science and cell biology principals, and will be expected to lead to high-impact publications and presentations at national and international conferences. You will be involved with key national and international collaborations (Australia, Germany, Netherlands, Korea, Portugal, Ireland, and China) currently established within the group.
You will also be expected to contribute to the research line with preparation of high impact peer-reviewed publications, as well as grant and project proposals.
Kā pūkeka me kā wheako/Skills and experience
- A PhD degree in engineering/bioengineering, polymer chemistry, or biomaterials science.
- A passion for coming up with new ideas, technologies or materials and implementing them, using a range of multidisciplinary knowledge towards clinical and/or commercial translation.
- Demonstrated experience in publishing high-impact manuscripts and/or involvement in successful grant applications.
- Skills and experience working with multiple 3D Bioprinting technologies, organoid models, development of hydrogels and biomaterial scaffolds, characterisation of hydrogels and biomaterial scaffolds, and in vitro 3D cell culture models.
- The ability to work successfully in a team and demonstrate leadership qualities including student supervision.
- Interest engaging with PhD and Early Career Researcher initiatives and opportunities.
- Experience planning large in vitro/in vivo animal experiments and independently managing and completing research projects is desirable.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Pūroko/Further details
This is a full-time (1 FTE), fixed term position for two years, based in Ōtautahi, Christchurch.
The successful candidate will be appointed on the Postdoctoral salary band ($92,350) per annum.
Tono/Application
- A CV.
- A cover letter.
- Sample publications and/or abstract page from PhD thesis.
- Three referee contact details.