Research Associate (Biomaterials)

Location: Oxford Road, Manchester, United Kingdom. Applicants must demonstrate the right to work in the UK. This role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship.

Company

hirify.global is a university supporting research and education.

What you will do

• Develop and optimise methacrylated hyaluronic acid hydrogel systems for controlled stiffening and softening during live-cell imaging.
• Characterise hydrogel properties, reproducibility, and compatibility with mammalian cell culture.
• Investigate integrin-dependent mechanobiology at cell–matrix adhesions and prepare findings for publication.
• Establish hydrogel fabrication and quality-control workflows, including practical training and technical support for laboratory members.
• Lead research outputs and develop external research funding applications with colleagues across relevant disciplines.

Requirements

• PhD in materials science, biomaterials, bioengineering, cell biology, or a closely related discipline, with substantial postdoctoral or equivalent research experience.
• Extensive independent experience developing and troubleshooting multiple biomaterial platforms for biological research, including patient-derived cancer-cell models.
• Established research track record in mechanobiology and receptor-mediated mechanotransduction involving GPCR/G-protein, integrin, or related cell-surface signalling systems.
• Experience with complementary biochemical, cellular, and imaging methods, including protein functionalisation, immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry, co-immunoprecipitation, small-GTPase activity assays, cellular fractionation, super-resolution microscopy, and transcriptomic datasets.
• Research independence and leadership appropriate to a senior postdoctoral researcher, including leading publications and developing grant or fellowship applications.
• Applicants must have the right to work in the UK; Skilled Worker visa sponsorship is not available.

Nice to have

• Experience with hyaluronic acid-based, methacrylated, or photocrosslinkable hydrogels and light-mediated biomaterial fabrication.
• Quantitative live-cell imaging, microfluidics, and analysis of mechanically regulated cell behaviour.
• Biomaterial characterisation using rheology, atomic force microscopy, or mechanical testing.
• Experience measuring integrin activation, focal-adhesion signalling, or related cell–matrix adhesion processes.

Culture & Benefits

• Inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives, transferable skills, and real-world experience.
• Generous employer pension contribution.
• 29 days of annual leave plus bank holidays and Christmas closure.
• Ride-to-work and electric vehicle car schemes.
• Flexible and hybrid working options are available according to role requirements.