Postdoctoral Researcher
Department: Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine
Reporting to: Dr. Tom Hodgkinson
Contract/Duration: Specified purpose contract, up to 12 Months
Closing Date: 30th of October 2025
Summary of Post
We are seeking to recruit a postdoctoral researcher to join the Hodgkinson Lab in the Tissue Engineering Research Group at RCSI. The successful applicant will work primarily on a Research Ireland funded project entitled “RESTORE- Regeneration Of Articular Cartilage Through Biomaterial-Controlled In Situ Cell Reprogramming To Recover Youthful Epigenetic Information”. The successful candidate will apply their expertise in viral gene delivery and omics execution and analysis.
Project Brief
Current treatments fail to effectively repair cartilage and typically only delay the age or injury associated degeneration that leads to osteoarthritis, a disease that affects over 500 million people worldwide. Age is the single biggest risk factor for cartilage degeneration and the success of conventional treatments all significantly decrease with age. This research project, situated in the Tissue Engineering Research Group and Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre (AMBER) at the RCSI, focuses on developing a solution that rejuvenates cartilage healing capacity, restores functionality and prevents the progression of degeneration.
This project focuses on the role of epigenetics in age-associated decline of cartilage repair capacity. Through development of a biomaterial-mediated gene delivery platform, this role investigates the therapeutic potential of targeting these mechanisms through adeno-associated viral (AAV) mediated delivery of transcription factors to partially reprogramme aged cells, rejuvenating their capacity for repair. By combining cutting-edge concepts from ageing research, gene delivery and biomaterials this research aims to advance cartilage regenerative therapies. The recipient of this position will work closely with several individuals from a multidisciplinary team that includes PIs, postdoctoral researchers, postgraduate students and clinicians from various national and international collaborators.
Responsibilities
* AAV transduction of primary human cells in culture and downstream analysis, including methylomics and RNAseq.
* Write scientific reports and reviews.
* Perform day-to-day research project management tasks, working with the Principal Investigator (PI) and research team to ensure the project deliverables are met.
* Represent the lab’s work at national and international conferences.
* Be highly motivated to perform with a high level of independence.
* Work with external collaborators and stakeholders (academic, clinical and industry) and internally at RCSI.
* Work in the laboratory with researchers at various training levels and provide training and supervision of students and other staff.
* Undergo appropriate training for specialised technical procedures, career training and development both in Ireland and overseas as may be required from time to time.
* Develop Standard Operating Procedures and Resources for Research Project.
* Participate in other research programmes within the laboratory.
* Ensure that all RCSI policies and procedures are adhered to.
* Comply with statutory legislation and RCSI rules and requirements in furtherance of their own and general staff welfare and safety.
* Represent the best interests of RCSI at all times.
Qualifications – Essential
* A PhD in the area of iPSC production/ therapeutic application, partial cell reprogramming, viral gene delivery (especially AAV), molecular genetics, synthetic biology, cell and tissue engineering, molecular biology, regenerative medicine or a related discipline
Knowledge & Experience – Essential
* Experience in the generation, culture and characterisation of induced pluripotent stem cells.
* Experience in current molecular and cell biology techniques, including cell transduction, molecular cloning, vector design and manufacture, protein and transcript level analyses etc.
* Ability to work successfully and engage with colleagues, collaborators, students and project stakeholders.
* Excellent verbal and written communication & dissemination skills.
* Highly familiar with primary cell culture and experience of cell transduction.
* Experience with biomaterial design and biological evaluation of biomaterials.
* Self‑motivated, hard‑working and willing to contribute towards the growing research in the area of ageing in cartilage regeneration.
* Experience with handling patient tissue and osteochondral cell isolation.
* Experience in laboratory based next‑generation sequencing methods such as DNA library preparation processes associated with methylation sequencing and RNA sequencing etc.
* Experience in basic bioinformatic approaches such as R Bioconductor.
* Experience of preclinical in vivo biomaterial evaluation.
* Communication Skills: Proven ability to communicate complex ideas. Be able to communicate with a high level of initiative, tact, diplomacy and confidentiality.
* Project Management Skills: Ability to ensure that project plans are communicated and that all timelines are met.
* Self‑starter with the ability to work as part of a team: Ability to operate effectively as part of a team – shares work and information; establishes rapport, can influence and develop effective networks.
* Conscientious: Have a pro‑active approach to work, anticipating and resolving problems in advance; keen attention to detail – from anticipating and addressing issues in advance to understanding requests and delivering quality work with minimal errors.
* Flexibility: Can operate flexibly within a busy environment; can shift focus when required.
* Motivated: Display a ‘can‑do’ attitude, be committed to RCSI ORI and its development; demonstrate enthusiasm and passion for the role.
We are all too aware that imposter syndrome and the confidence gap can sometimes stop fantastic candidates putting themselves forward, so please do submit an application — we’d love to hear from you.
Seniority level
Associate
Employment type
Contract
Job function
Research
Industries
Higher Education
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