Senior Research Associate

Postdoctoral Research Associate: Skin inflammation and epithelial cell damage in response to laser-induced heat stress

We are seeking a highly motivated and creative individual to join us as a post-doctoral researcher within  Dr Leonie Unterholzner and Dr Amy Saunders’ groups in the Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences at Lancaster University, to investigate the effect of laser-induced heat stress on skin inflammation and epithelial cell damage.

This collaborative project aims to decipher biological mechanisms underlying immunological and damage responses to near infra-red lasers which are being developed for diagnostic use in musculoskeletal conditions. The Unterholzner and Saunders labs which you will belong to have interests in understanding skin inflammation at the molecular, cellular and tissue level with a particular focus on innate sensing of pathogens and cell damage (Dunphy et al., Mol Cell 2018; Gamble et al. BioRxiv, 2025) and the regulation of inflammatory skin diseases (Linley et al. Mucosal Immunology, 2023; Priestley et al. Science Signaling, 2025). 

You will be part of a muti-disciplinary collaborative team working closely with biologists, engineers and clinicians across multiple institutions in an EPSRC-funded project (SORS in the Community). You will use primary human epithelial skin cells, human skin tissue explants and murine models to investigate how laser-induced heat stress affects cell proliferation and induces the production of cytokines and damage responses. Expertise in mammalian cell culture is essential and experience in ELISA, confocal microscopy, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, QPCR or in vivo models of disease are desirable, but full training will be provided.  

Candidates should have a PhD in a relevant field such as immunology or cell biology (or be close to completion), background knowledge of immunology and an interest in skin inflammation. We are looking for a highly motivated individual with excellent communication skills, the capacity to work collaboratively and the ability to solve problems creatively. 

This is a fixed term position for a period of 36 months.  

The Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, within the Faculty of Health and Medicine at Lancaster University, is a rapidly growing Division whose research effort is directed towards understanding basic cellular and physiological mechanisms that underpin disease states. It provides a friendly research environment that strongly supports the individual needs of each employee and which actively promotes a healthy work-life balance. The Faculty is committed to family-friendly and flexible working policies and has held Silver Athena SWAN awards since 2014 in recognition of its good employment practice to address gender equality in higher education and research.

Informal enquiries are welcome. Please contact Dr Leonie Unterholzner: l.unterholzner@lancaster.ac.uk.

We welcome applications from people in all diversity groups and are happy to consider flexible working requests.