Research Associate Grade 7: PEEN (Plasmon-Enhanced Expansion Nanoscopy)

Job Purpose

To make a leading contribution to PEEN (Plasmon-Enhanced Expansion Nanoscopy), a 12-month project funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) through its Transformative Research Technologies scheme to build a new platform for super-resolution, label-free metabolic imaging of microbial cells. The project is led by Dr Jiabao Xu with Professor Huabing Yin (James Watt School of Engineering). PEEN places the resolving power in the sample chemistry rather than the optics: bacterial cells are physically expanded in a hydrogel that retains their biomolecules, and silver nanoparticles are then grown inside the expanded gel to create a three-dimensional surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate. The post holder will lead this chemistry: developing and validating the expansion and in situ nanoparticle synthesis, characterising the plasmonic substrate, and demonstrating the platform on deuterium-labelled Escherichia coli. Computational analysis of the spectral images is delivered by the PI, so no machine learning experience is required. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the formulation and submission of research publications and research proposals as well as help manage and direct this complex and challenging project as opportunities allow.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Lead the expansion and nanoreactor chemistry: establish and optimise an expansion microscopy protocol for bacterial cells that retains proteins, lipids and small metabolites, and develop in situ silver nanoparticle synthesis within the expanded hydrogel, tuning particle size and distribution for SERS enhancement.

2. Characterise the plasmonic substrate by scanning and transmission electron microscopy at the James Watt Nanofabrication Centre, and quantify SERS enhancement and its uniformity across gels, cells and imaging depths, including ratiometric normalisation against the hydrogel backbone signal.

3. Culture and prepare Escherichia coli samples, including deuterium (D2O) metabolic labelling and fixation, and acquire Raman and SERS spectral images on the group's confocal Raman systems in the Advanced Research Centre.

4. Diagnose and resolve failures in the chemistry, such as particle aggregation, uneven nanoparticle growth, loss of biomolecules during expansion and gel drift during imaging, using capping agents, alternative reduction routes such as photochemical reduction, or modified anchoring as required.

5. Deliver the proof-of-concept study: image deuterium-labelled E. coli with the PEEN platform, map cell-to-cell metabolic heterogeneity against conventional Raman baselines, and validate the signal against unexpanded and unlabelled controls.

6. Write reproducible, documented protocols, including failure modes and quality control checkpoints, for adoption by other laboratories, and work safely with microorganisms, nanomaterials, lasers and hazardous reagents in line with University requirements.

7. Take a leading role in the planning and conduct of assigned research individually or jointly in accordance with the project deliverables and project/group/School/College research strategy.

8. Document research output including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, drafting technical/progress reports and papers as appropriate.

9. Establish and maintain your research profile and reputation and that of the University of Glasgow/School/Research Group/area, including establishing and sustaining a track record of independent and joint publications of international quality, enhancing the research impact in terms of economic/societal benefit, and gathering indicators of esteem.

10. Survey the research literature and environment, understand the research challenges associated with the project and subject area, and develop/implement a suitable research strategy to deliver project/area requirements and opportunities.

11. Presentation of work at international and national conferences, at internal and external seminars, colloquia and workshops to develop and enhance our research and/or impact profile.

12. Take a leading role in the identification of potential funding sources and to assist in the development of proposals to secure funding from internal and external bodies to support future research and impact.

13. Take a leading role in developing and maintaining collaborations with colleagues across the research group/area/School/College/University and wider community.

14. Take a leading role in team/group meetings/seminars/workshops and School research group/area activities to enhance the wider knowledge, outputs and culture of the School/College.

15. Take the lead in the organisation, supervision, mentoring and training of undergraduate and/or postgraduate students and less experienced members of the project team to ensure their effective development.

16. Perform administrative tasks related to the activities of the research group and School, including budgets/expenditure.

17. Contribute as appropriate to teaching activities (e.g. demonstrating, etc) and associated administration, as may be assigned through the School in consultation with your line manager.

18. Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field/discipline.

19. Engage in personal, professional and career development, to enhance both specialist and transferable skills in accordance with desired career trajectory.

20. Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by your line manager and the Head of School.

21. Contribute to the enhancement of the University's international profile in line with University strategy.

Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential:
A1 Normally Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 12 (PhD) plus track record of emerging independence within a research/professional environment, or alternatively possess professional qualifications and experience equivalent to PhD level plus the requisite experience.
A2 A comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of current issues and future directions within the relevant research disciplines, in particular Raman spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of biological or soft-matter samples.
A3 Well-developed working knowledge of research methods, technical models, equipment and techniques relevant to the project, including noble-metal nanoparticle synthesis or polymer hydrogel chemistry, and confocal Raman micro-spectroscopy.

Desirable:
B1 Knowledge of expansion microscopy or other hydrogel-embedding sample preparation methods.
B2 Knowledge of microbial physiology, stable isotope metabolic labelling or single-cell microbiology.
B3 Knowledge of plasmonics and the origins of SERS enhancement, including the effect of particle size and inter-particle gaps.

Skills

Essential:
C1 Hands-on wet chemistry: preparation and handling of colloids, hydrogels or nanostructured substrates, including control of nanoparticle nucleation and growth, with attention to reproducibility.
C2 Ability to communicate material of a specialist or highly technical nature and to be effective both orally and in writing at a level appropriate to the activity.
C3 Effective organisation skills to manage time, prioritise and deliver appropriate research, teaching and administrative responsibilities.
C4 Operation of confocal Raman or other optical micro-spectroscopy instrumentation, including calibration, troubleshooting and processing of spectral data.
C5 Ability to work collaboratively across chemistry, engineering and microbiology teams.

Desirable:
D1 Scanning or transmission electron microscopy of nanomaterials.
D2 Bacterial culture and aseptic technique.
D3 Colloid and nanoparticle characterisation, for example UV-visible spectroscopy of the plasmon band or dynamic light scattering.

Experience

Essential:
E1 Experience of planning and progressing work activities within professional guidelines or organisational policy, applying initiative and independent judgement.
E2 Developing track record of research outputs compatible with enhancing the School's research profile in accordance with School objectives.
E3 Experience of making distinct contributions to identifying and pursuing research funding (or equivalent business development) applications.
E4 Proven commitment to supporting the career development of colleagues and to other forms of collegiality appropriate to the career stage, including some experience of research project supervision.
E5 Commitment to open research, as appropriate to the discipline, through open data, open code, open educational resources and practices that support replication.
E6 Experience of Raman or SERS measurement of biological or soft-matter samples, and of nanomaterial synthesis or hydrogel fabrication in a research setting.

Desirable:
F1 Experience of participating in activities that translate research into impact to benefit the economy and wider society.
F2 Experience of contributing to the design and delivery of teaching and assessment in higher education or other relevant environments.
F3 Experience of expansion microscopy, super-resolution imaging or correlative imaging.
F4 Experience of working with microbial samples or stable isotope metabolic labelling experiments.
F5 Experience of templated or in situ nanoparticle growth in polymers, gels or other confined media.

Terms and Conditions

This post is full time (35 hours per week) and is fixed term until 31 January 2028. A start date of 1 February 2027 is envisaged, or as soon as possible thereafter.

All applicants must have the right to live and work in the UK or be eligible to obtain permission to work in the UK. This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route.

Benefits include: a warm and engaging organisational culture; 41 days of leave for full time staff; generous pension scheme; flexible working; commitment to health and wellbeing including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff.