Postdoctoral Research Associate in Genome-Scale Metabolic Modelling for Red Blood Cell Engineering

This postdoctoral position at the University of Bristol focuses on advancing genome-scale metabolic modelling to engineer red blood cells capable of sensing and responding to metabolic changes. As part of the interdisciplinary Aerobic Engineering Biology programme, the successful candidate will develop mathematical models to understand red blood cell maturation and optimise synthetic biological circuits. The role involves close collaboration with experimental researchers at the University of Bristol and Northwestern University, integrating computational and biological approaches to accelerate therapeutic development. Ideal candidates should have expertise in metabolic modelling, strong programming skills, and a passion for interdisciplinary research at the bioengineering-computational interface.

• Develop and refine genome-scale metabolic models of reticulocytes and mature red blood cells using published data and experimental results.
• Construct mathematical models of engineered gene and enzyme circuits, integrating them into broader metabolic frameworks.
• Analyse metabolomics and other experimental datasets to investigate metabolic changes during red blood cell maturation and engineering.
• Collaborate closely with experimental researchers at the University of Bristol and Northwestern University to validate models and optimise synthetic circuit design.
• Work with academic and industrial partners to advance project objectives and disseminate research findings through high-quality publications.
• Maintain accurate records of computational models, code, and research outputs to ensure reproducibility.
• Contribute to monthly project progress reports and participate in interdisciplinary team meetings.