Category Archives: Biology

Biology

New Read & Publish consortia offer from The Company of Biologists – Research Information

The Company of Biologists has announced a new three-year Read & Publish Open Access consortia offer with ZB Med Information Centre for Life Sciences, Germany.

This offer, which runs from 2024 to 2026, is available to 400 member institutions and 2,000 hospitals with discounted rates available depending on the number of participants. This is the Companys first consortium agreement in Germany and Missing Link Versandbuchhandlung eG, the Company's German representative, was instrumental in helping establish the agreement.

Corresponding authors at participating institutions in Germany can publish an uncapped number of research articles immediately Open Access (OA) in the hybrid journals Development, Journal of Cell Science and Journal of Experimental Biology plus the fully Open Access journals Disease Models & Mechanisms and Biology Open without paying an article processing charge (APC). Researchers at participating institutions also benefit from unlimited access to the Company's hybrid journals, including their full archives dating back to 1853.

Petra Labriga, Head of Strategic Licensing at ZB Med, said:In our role as the German Information Center for Life Sciences, ZB Med is strongly invested in helping German life scientists publish their work Open Access in an affordable yet highly professional environment. Focusing on Open Access and transformative agreements for German Life Sciences, we invite all interested German academic and research institutions and hospitals to join this consortium agreement with The Company of Biologists to take advantage of this non-APC based, uncapped author publishing opportunity.

Rich Blount, Regional Sales Manager at The Company of Biologists, said:We are delighted that our continuing partnership with Missing Link Versandbuchhandlung eG has helped us to develop this agreement with the ZB Med Consortium. Germany is one of our key markets and we are looking forward to expanding opportunities for more authors in Germany to publish fee-free Open Access research articles in all five of our journals.

Klaus Tapken, Chairman at Missing Link Versandbuchhandlung eG, added:As the distribution partner in DACH, we were able to accompany the consortia negotiations between ZB Med and The Company of Biologists. The result can be considered a considerable success both for scientific publishing and libraries as the next step on their journey towards Open Access.

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New Read & Publish consortia offer from The Company of Biologists - Research Information

Biology

Massive brain dump described as triumph of molecular biology – Cosmos

Ten years ago, the USA government founded the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, a multi-billion dollar project to revolutionise our understanding of the brain.

The Initiative has just dropped a new trove of research, with an international team of hundreds of scientists publishing more than 20 papers across Science journals.

Among them are the first atlas of cells in the human brain, based on an analysis of 1.1 million brain cells across 42 different brain regions in 3 human brains. This has yielded a comprehensive picture of the DNA in the human brain: both the genes that play roles, and the changes to DNA through epigenetic modifications.

The researchers have concluded that people have more than 3,000 different types of brain cells.

Mapping out the different types of cells in the brain and understanding how they work together will ultimately help us discover new therapies that can target individual cell types relevant to specific diseases, says Professor Bing Ren, a researcher at the University of California, San Diegos school of medicine and senior author on one of the Science papers.

Other research looks at primate brains, to spot the similarities and differences between human brains and those of chimpanzees, gorillas, macaques, and marmosets.

Mapping the brains cellular landscape is a critical step toward understanding how this vital organ works in health and disease, said Dr Joshua Gordon, director of the National Institute of Mental Health.

These new detailed cell atlases of the human brain and the nonhuman primate brain offer a foundation for designing new therapies that can target the specific brain cells and circuits involved in brain disorders.

Another branch of research has zeroed in on differences between human and mouse brains that might be evolutionary hotspots, liable to greater changes and more complexity in humans.

At its core, this body of work is a triumph of molecular biology, says Professor Ed Lein, a senior investigator at the Allen Institute for Brain Science and lead on several of the studies.

Differential gene usage can be used to define cell types, and the tools of genomics could be used to create the first drafts of high-resolution, annotated maps of the cells that make up the entire human brain.

The studies will feed data into the Human Cell Atlas, an international project to characterise every human cell.

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Massive brain dump described as triumph of molecular biology - Cosmos

Biology

Nobel-Prize-winning researchers return to the basics of biology – Guilfordian

On Oct. 2, scientists Katalin Karik and Drew Weissman were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine for their joint research on the capabilities of mRNA in immunization. Their findings, once refined, led to the speedy production of the COVID-19 vaccines responsible for saving the lives of millions of people around the world.

The COVID-19 shots distributed across the globe are as historically significant as the pandemic itself. Unlike traditional vaccines that expose humans to a weakened version of the actual pathogen, the coronavirus vaccine introduces lab-altered mRNA into the bloodstream, instructing cells to produce proteins that stimulate an immune response with less overall health risks and development time as explained by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

It (the mRNA vaccine) is bypassing a lot of the things that the production of other vaccines requires, Michele Malotky, professor of biology at Guilford, said. It is more likely to be safer and faster to produce and modify to reflect changes in the virus over time.

Every time a pathogen is transferred between people, it has the chance to mutate and possibly leave vaccines ineffective. The mRNA vaccine, however, can be rapidly modified for new strains as scientists can simply alter the ingredients in RNA in a test tube within a couple of weeks, according to the National Human Genome Research Institute, shortening the traditional five to 10-year vaccine development and testing process reported by Johns Hopkins.

While this groundbreaking medical innovation has been praised for its rapid development, the path to reach it was constantly at risk of failure due to funding issues.

According to a biography on Karik by womenshistory.org, she moved to Pennsylvania from Hungary in 1985 when university funding for her research ran out. In 1989, Karik was hired to a low-level, untenured assistant professor position at the University of Pennsylvania where she was only able to conduct research by partnering with senior scientists.

In 1997, Weissman started working at the University of Pennsylvania and, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Coordination, received substantial support for his lab, whereas grant reviewers at the university were hesitant to fund Kariks mRNA research due to her lower-level doctorate and the perceived simplicity of her subject.

Within the scientists two distinct paths, Malotky points out common trends within the modern scientific community. She is amongst a large group of people who recognize the continued sexism in the field as Karik, who has become only the 13th woman to win the Nobel Prize out of 227 laureates, had to jump through various hoops to obtain adequate resources for her research in comparison to her male counterpart. Kariks lack of funding has also been attributed to a shift within educational expectations.

Her work was basic science research and a lot of people didnt recognize the value or application of this foundational work, Malotky said. To me, it reflects a troubling pattern we also see in higher education with discussions about the value of a liberal arts education. Too many people fail to recognize the important foundation that the liberal arts provide, looking to courses and fields of study that directly relate to their career goals.

Whether its a liberal arts education or basic science that will lead to wonderful discoveries like in this case, people just dont seem to recognize the fundamental value, focusing only on the endpoint, Malotky said. For funding in the sciences, you have to show what merit your research is going to provide. Well, some of that basic science we need to understand in order to get to that point, and people dont see that, and so she couldnt get funding for the work that eventually earned her a Nobel Prize.

Fortunately, Weissman saw the merit in Kariks vision, and the two decided to merge their paths after a friendly conversation over a copy machine. According to an article by the New York Times, she boasted to him that she could use mRNA for anything she wanted, including possibly making an H.I.V. vaccine which Weissman was currently working towards.

After facing issues with how the mRNA is received by the body, in 2005, they finally published their finding about adding the molecule pseudouridine to modified mRNA and shielding it from the immune system. Despite this research being vital in creating the life-saving COVID-19 vaccine, only the obscure publisher Immunity would accept their work as major companies deemed the findings too rudimentary.

The story behind these two scientists is one of perseverance and getting back to the basics. Due to their research, we find ourselves in a better position in combating ailments like H.I.V., cancer and discrimination in the sciences.

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Nobel-Prize-winning researchers return to the basics of biology - Guilfordian

Biology

Does Dunking Your Head in Water Ease Anxiety? Ask This … – UVA Today

UVA Today checked in with assistant professor of biology John Campbell, whose neurobiology lab at the University of Virginia studies the vagus nerve, to see if such claims hold water.

Q. There is a social media trend of face dunking to calm anxiety. Does it work?

A. I do think theres truth behind that. Holding your breath and putting cold water on your face, or just an ice pack, will trigger the diving reflex, which dramatically decreases your heart rate. Essentially all mammals have this reflex, from mice to humans to blue whales, which likely helps us stay underwater longer.

Interestingly, recent research has shown that heart rate alone can affect anxiety, specifically that increasing heart rates in mice causes them to act more anxiously. Ongoing research in my lab suggests the opposite may also be true that decreasing heart rate can decrease anxiety. So, triggering your diving reflex will decrease your heart rate, which may make you feel less anxious.

Q. How does that relate to the vagus nerve?

A. The vagus nerve is a vital conduit of information between your brain and body. Many of the nerve fibers that make up the vagus nerve carry internal sensory information from your body to your brain, telling your brain, for instance, that there are nutrients in your gut, or that there's a change in blood pressure.

However, other vagal nerve fibers transmit signals from brain to the body. These descending nerve fibers control many of your other organ systems, including the cardiorespiratory, digestive and immune systems.

The diving reflex is one important reflex controlled by the vagus nerve, specifically by the vagal nerve fibers that go from your brainstem to your heart and slow its rate. There are many other reflexes that help the brain adapt organ function to the bodys ever-changing needs.

Q. Why is our brain wired to our gut, and in a way that also seems to relate to mood?

A. The vagus nerve tells the brain whats happening in the gut, from the presence and type of nutrients to whether there is an infection. The vagus nerve may also be sensing signals, directly or indirectly, from the gut microbiome, which is impacted by diet and stress and can affect our mood through the vagus nerve.

Of course, the vagus nerve carries information in the other direction, too, from brain to gut. This brain-to-gut signaling helps the body digest and absorb nutrients while preventing dangerous rises in blood sugar after a meal. Unfortunately, this system breaks down in a variety of diseases, from Parkinsons to diabetes. My lab is working to understand how it normally functions so that we can know how to treat it when it breaks down.

Q. Tell us more about your labs interest in the vagus nerve.

A. We are fascinated with how one nerve can have so many visceral functions, from decreasing heart rate, to managing blood sugar, to moving food through the gut. How is this system organized? Are there certain nerve fibers that, for instance, only decrease heart rate, and others that only increase insulin secretion from the pancreas? If so, how are they connected in the brain, how do they signal and how can we target them to treat heart disease, diabetes and anxiety disorders?

Q. Can you talk about your latest research with diving mice? Arent they afraid of water?

A. One of our ongoing projects is studying the diving reflex in mice to better understand the neurons involved, since they powerfully control heart rate. To naturally induce this reflex, we are training mice to voluntarily dive underwater and swim under a barrier, an assay that was developed by a previous undergraduate researcher in our lab, Veronica Gutierrez, working with our collaborator, professor Steve Abbott, in [the Department of] Pharmacology.

To make the experience less unpleasant for mice, we keep the pool water bathwater-warm. Still, when they dive underwater, we see their heart rate slow to about 25% of resting rate, a really striking change. While I cant say whether the mice like this activity or not, some will climb out of the water and then turn around and dive back in. All the mice weve studied so far have learned to dive and show a robust diving reflex.

As for mice being afraid of the water, Im not sure why thats the case. I suppose it could be related to maintaining their body temperature. Mice must use a lot of energy to prevent hypothermia and lose insulation when they get wet. For our diving mice, we keep the pool water warm and give the mice a warming lamp to help dry off after diving.

Q. What are you learning from your recent research?

A. Research in our lab and others is shedding light on the organization of the vagus nerve and how it controls heart and digestive functions. My lab has found that genetically distinct subtypes of neurons in the brainstem connect with different visceral organs through the vagus nerve, to control different organ functions.

While our diving studies are not published yet, our study shows that activating the descending brain-to-body nerve fibers of the vagus nerve decreases heart rate and anxiety in mice.

This research, led by a doctoral student from the neuroscience graduate program, Nicholas Conley, and a former undergraduate researcher, Lily Kauffman, is currently in peer review. Our research on the diving reflex was led by former undergraduate researcher Veronica Gutierrez, biology doctoral candidate Maira Jalil, and a former pharmacology doctoral student, Tatiana Coverdell. It will be submitted for peer review soon.

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Does Dunking Your Head in Water Ease Anxiety? Ask This ... - UVA Today

Biology

Engineers to build cyborg locusts, study odor-guided navigation … – Washington University in St. Louis

The inviting smell of a freshly baked cookie immediately triggers a motor response to search for the source of that smell. Often the cookie can be easily found.

This everyday event that we perform without a thought is an amazing feat that combines our superior ability to smell the cookie and computational prowess to determine the direction to move toward the cookie. Robots that possess similar capabilities are yet to be developed as the basic biological principles that are needed to perform this task are yet to be fully understood.

The ability to study neural responses in behaving insects is essential to understanding the robust solutions that biological systems have developed for several engineering problems. Researchers at the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis have long sought to understand locusts and their power of sensing, computing and locomotory capabilities.

Barani Raman, a professor of biomedical engineering at the McKelvey School of Engineering, is leading a multidisciplinary team to study how the locust brain transforms sensory input into behavior with a four-year $4.3 million grant from the National Science Foundations Integrative Strategies for Understanding Neural and Cognitive Systems program. The grant converges years of research in Ramans lab with that of his longtime WashU collaborators, including McKelveys Shantanu Chakrabartty, a professor of electrical and systems engineering, Srikanth Singamaneni, a professor of mechanical engineering and materials science, and Alexandra Rutz, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering, as well as Yehuda Ben-Shahar, a professor of biology in Arts & Sciences.

Insects are an engineering marvel, Raman said. They possess diverse sensing modalities and locomotory responses yet contained in such a small package. We want to engineer tools to study the amazing capabilities of these relatively simpler organisms.

The research brings together Washington Universitys strengths in neural engineering, integrated circuits, biomaterials, synthetic biology and genetic engineering to understand how the insects use olfactory cues to navigate toward an odor source, which could potentially be used for various applications, such as detecting gas left on in the kitchen or as the proverbial canary in the coal mine to test spaces for hazardous chemicals.

In 2024, the team plans to launch the first-of-its-kind Center for Cyborg and Biorobotics Research (CyBoR) to formally conduct the research.

The team plans to study the neural response in the locusts brains by having the locusts follow a specific odor on a specially built treadmill while walking on a foam ball and while flying in a wind tunnel. By studying their movements and neural activity in the brain in response to these odors, the team can process the information using a custom microchip to develop a cyborg, or mobile robot or drone, that can mimic the locusts behaviors. They also aim to augment the locusts ability to detect certain odors over others.

Nature already has endowed this organism with various capabilities, so why not understand and augment those capabilities using synthetic mechanisms? asked Chakrabartty, whose expertise is in sensors and integrated circuits. Ultimately, our goal is to design a completely synthetic system that has similar remarkable capabilities.

Insects are an engineering marvel.

While the team already joined forces to create recording instruments and nanomaterials to manipulate neural and behavioral responses, they will continue to improve on those as they develop the bio-hybrid and mobile robotic systems.

One of the important challenges in these studies is the limited stability of the neural recording and stimulation electrodes and interfaces over a long period, said Singamaneni, whose expertise is in novel bio- and nanomaterials. We aim to design and realize novel anti-inflammatory electrodes and biointerfaces that will enable stable long-term neural recording and stimulation.

Previously, the research team developed a miniature backpack containing sensors that recorded the locusts brain activity when exposed to odors. However, the existing backpack is too heavy for the locusts to wear while flying, so the team will work to reduce its weight.

At Washington University, the research is underway in a state-of-the-art CyBoR facility that includes the habitat for the locusts, the treadmill, the wind tunnel, specialized microscopes and space for visiting researchers as well as for visitors interested in learning about the insects. WashU students also will be included in the research as well as students from the community through various outreach programs.

Other co-investigators include Alper Bozkurt, a distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering at North Carolina State University, who will lead efforts on instrumentation for navigation control; Sawyer Fuller, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Washington, who will lead efforts to build miniaturized robots that incorporate both biological and engineering elements; and Nabil Imam, an assistant professor of computational science and engineering at Georgia Tech, who will lead the development of neuromorphic algorithms and hardware in the bio-hybrid and robotic systems.

Originally published on the McKelvey School of Engineering website

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Engineers to build cyborg locusts, study odor-guided navigation ... - Washington University in St. Louis

Biology

BIOTECHNOLOGY in the Future: 2050 (Artificial Biology) | by … – Medium

The fusion of biology and technology promises to be a transformative force, offering us the power to reshape life as we know it. This brave new world of bio-technology is teeming with astonishing possibilities, challenging our understanding of what it means to be human. As we delve into this uncharted territory, were bound to witness remarkable developments.

Human Organ Farms and Artificial Wombs: A Future in the Making One profound consequence of this amalgamation is the emergence of human organ farms, a revolutionary solution to the perennial shortage of donor organs. Artificial wombs are being employed by governments to replenish dwindling populations, raising profound ethical questions about the nature of our species.

Robots with Biological Components: A Symbiotic Future The melding of machines and biology is yielding robots with biological parts. These bio-mechanical beings are poised to play pivotal roles in various aspects of our lives, from healthcare to industry.

Genetically Enhanced Humans: Healing Through Touch and Beyond Within the realm of bio-technology, we encounter genetically modified humans capable of healing through touch, exemplifying the potential for life-altering medical breakthroughs. The line between science fiction and reality is blurred as these capabilities unfurl.

Environmental Implications: Humans as the Invasive Species Yet, with great power comes great responsibility. As humans begin engineering life, concerns arise about our impact on the environment. Are we becoming an invasive species, disrupting the delicate balance of nature? The consequences of our actions remain uncertain.

The Enigma of Underground Bio-Hackers Hidden from the purview of regulations, underground bio-hackers are conducting mysterious experiments in labs that challenge the status quo. What could these renegades be concocting, and what does it mean for the future of bio-technology?

The Evolution of Humanity: Redefined by Bio-Printing At the heart of this transformation lies bio-printing, a technology that transcends traditional 3D and 4D printing. Rather than plastics or metals, bio-printing employs living cells known as bio-inks. These bio-inks are printed layer by layer, giving rise to intricate biological structures and objects.

Breathing Life into Objects: The Alchemists Dream Realized Bio-printing is akin to the alchemists dream brought to life. Its applications range from bioprinted eyeball corneas and hair follicles for hair loss to personalized cosmetic testing and combat wound healing. The potential is vast, with bio-printed coral reefs and space stations on the horizon.

Bioprinted Organs: Overcoming the Dearth of Donor Organs To address the persistent shortage of donor organs, bioprinted organs are cultivated on organ farms. Moreover, miniaturized organs, or organoids, are crafted using a patients cells for medical testing, offering hope for innovative treatments.

Cybernetics: Merging Electronics and Bioprinted Pieces In the field of cybernetics, electronics are integrated into bioprinted pieces, leading to the creation of advanced cybernetic organs that surpass their natural counterparts. Examples include bio-printed lungs with built-in sensors and nanofilters and bionic eyeballs with enhanced vision capabilities.

The Unforeseen Consequences: Paranormal Visions and Ethical Dilemmas With these advancements come unexpected consequences, as some recipients of experimental bionic enhancements claim to experience paranormal visions. Meanwhile, bio-printed skin emerges as a lifeline against a deadly disease, igniting debates about what it means to be human.

Living Architecture: Buildings with a Biological Twist The concept of living architecture is transforming how buildings are constructed. Bio-engineered materials enable structures to self-repair, cleanse the air, and absorb pollutants. Gecko-inspired adhesives and eco-concrete inspired by coral reefs are revolutionizing the construction industry.

The Dark Side of Living Buildings: Forced Obsolescence However, the innovative living architecture movement faces challenges, including concerns about forced obsolescence. Companies are accused of engineering biomaterials to deteriorate, compelling consumers to frequently replace their living building components.

Bio-Art: Living Tissue as Canvas Artists explore the possibilities of living tissue and bioprinters to create ever-evolving works of bio-art. Luxury apartments feature these stunning creations, while living sea walls of genetically engineered corals and muscles protect coastal cities from rising sea levels.

Bio-Luminescent Innovations: Nature-Inspired Lighting Bio-luminescent lights, plants, bacteria, and algae are bio-engineered to glow in the dark, offering eco-friendly alternatives to conventional street lighting. However, when a bio-luminescent ecosystem suddenly falters, a town is plunged into darkness, sparking intrigue and conspiracy theories.

Bio-Hybrid Robots: Blurring the Lines Between Nature and Machine The future heralds a multi-trillion-dollar industry in bio-hybrid robots, combining biological tissue with robotics for enhanced flexibility and energy efficiency. While these innovations promise environmental monitoring and research, concerns about invasive species and espionage linger.

Bio-Hybrid Robots in Espionage and Environmental Cleanup Bio-hybrid robots, designed to mimic animals, raise concerns about potential espionage, border breaches, and harmful biological agents. Nevertheless, they emerge as saviors in the aftermath of bio-waste catastrophes, capable of scavenging resources, rescuing survivors, and restoring extinct species.

The Neo-Humans: A New Species on the Horizon In this bold new era of bio-technology, a breed of individuals known as Neo-Humans emerges. These bio-hackers have transcended the boundaries of humanity, blurring the lines between humans and something altogether different. They wield unique abilities, from warding off insects with bio-engineered pheromones to becoming living musical instruments.

A World of Possibilities: Bio-Engineering at its Peak Bio-technology is rewriting the rules of what is possible. People are defying aging with manipulated telomeres, splitting their consciousness, and even healing others through touch.

As we traverse this uncharted terrain, we redefine our understanding of what it means to be human and embrace the boundless potential of bio-technology in our ongoing evolution.

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BIOTECHNOLOGY in the Future: 2050 (Artificial Biology) | by ... - Medium

Biology

Soil Biology and Composting Workshop for commercial growers … – Journal of the San Juan Islands

Submitted by event organizers.

Join Saturns Return Farm & Inn and GroundWork Soil Lab for an exciting in-person event in Friday Harbor on Oct. 14 at 1 p.m. This workshop is specially designed for commercial growers in the San Juan Islands who want to enhance their knowledge of soil biology and composting. Discover the secrets of nurturing healthy soil and learn effective composting techniques from industry experts. Gain valuable insights, practical tips, and hands-on experience to boost your crop resiliency, and reduce inputs.

Tickets are $50, and can be bought at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soil-biology-and-composting-workshop-for-commercial-growers-tickets-71811A

6534887?aff=oddtdtcreator.

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Soil Biology and Composting Workshop for commercial growers ... - Journal of the San Juan Islands

Biology

Post-doctoral Fellow in Bioinformatics in the Cancer Biology … – Times Higher Education

Work type:Full-time Department:Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine (21200) Categories:Senior Research Staff & Post-doctoral Fellow

Applications are invited for appointment asPost-doctoral Fellow in bioinformatics in the Cancer Biology Laboratory(Ref. 523403),to commence as soon as possible for three years, with the possibility of renewal subject to satisfactory performance.

Applicants should have a Ph.D. degree, preferably in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Biomedical Sciences, Biological Science, or a related discipline. Applicants should be familiar with, UNIX environment, computer programming and R language. Preference will be given to those with strong experience in cancer biology, genome biology, and next-generation sequencing analysis. Applicants should be self-motivated, organized and able to work independently as well as in a team. The appointee will work with Dr. Carmen Wong on liver cancer projects with NGS and single cell RNA sequencing analysis. Enquiries about the post should be sent to Dr. Carmen Wong atcarmencl@pathology.hku.hk. Further details about the research team can be find in our webpage (www.carmenwong-lab.com).

A highly competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience will be offered, in addition to annual leave and medical benefits.

The University only accepts online application for the above post. Applicants should apply online and upload an up-to-date C.V. Review of applications will start on October 20, 2023 and continue untilDecember 31, 2023, or until the post is filled, whichever is earlier.

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Post-doctoral Fellow in Bioinformatics in the Cancer Biology ... - Times Higher Education

Biology

Research Fellow, Biology job with MAYNOOTH UNIVERSITY | 354742 – Times Higher Education

Department : Biology Vacancy ID : 025483 Closing Date : 05-Nov-2023

Maynooth University is committed to a strategy in which the primary University goals of excellent research and scholarship and outstanding education are interlinked and equally valued.

The Family Genomics research group led by Dr Lorna Lopez, in collaboration with behavioural neuroscientist Professor Andrew Coogan at Maynooth University invite applications for the position of Research Fellow on our Ambient-BD research project.

This project is led by the University of Edinburgh with co-investigators at Maynooth University, Ireland and the Technical University of Munich, Germany. It is funded by the Wellcome Trust (2023-2028).The purpose of Ambient-BD is to investigate the role of variability in long-term circadian rhythms in the trajectory of disease in people with bipolar disorder.

The initial development and validation studies will be carried out in Maynooth University and the clinical studies in people with bipolar disorder completed at the University of Edinburgh. There will be considerable collaboration between the two research sites throughout the project.

Bipolar disorder is defined by extreme variability in mood, activity, sleep and circadian timing recurring over weeks and months. The purpose of Ambient-BD is to optimise innovative ambient and passive methods for collection of circadian data and to test their feasibility and performance against gold standards. A lived experience advisory panel will help us to identify and prioritise clinical and functional outcome measures to co-produce low intensity methods for collecting these outcomes. In parallel, we will develop a data collection and data management system to support data collection and optimise data sharing with patients, clinicians and the research community. Our goal is to identify causal mechanisms by which sleep and circadian disruption leads to relapse in bipolar disorder. We will also deliver an innovative programme of knowledge exchange and dissemination in collaboration with Bipolar Scotland

We are seeking an enthusiastic and ambitious research fellow to join our research team to manage studies to develop novel methods for assessment of circadian rhythms. The successful candidate will work with us on cutting-edge research projects that focus on understanding how changes in the variability of circadian rhythms relate to human health and disease.

The research fellow will find ample opportunities to collaborate via our membership of circadian research collaborations in the UK, https://www.circadianmentalhealth.org/. They will be given support to develop their independent research career, including help with fellowship applications, building collaborations and research placements in other research groups.

This position is embedded in a collaboration across genetics, data science, chronobiology and psychiatry and the successful candidate will become a part of a large team of lived-experience advisors, patient advocates, PIs, postdocs, PhD students and research assistants working together to drive the field of chronopsychiatry forwards.

Salary

Research Fellow (2023): 61,318 63,096 p.a. pro-rata. (2 points with increment)

Appointments will be made in accordance with public sector pay provisions

Closing Date: 23:30hrs (local Irish time) on Sunday, 05th November 2023.

Please note all applications must be made via our Online Recruitment Portal at the following link: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/human-resources/vacancies

Please apply with your CV and a Cover letter that includes a brief summary of the following:

Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time specified above. Any applications which are still in progress at the closing time on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system.

Late applications will not be accepted.

Maynooth University is an equal opportunities employer

The position is subject to the Statutes of the University

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Research Fellow, Biology job with MAYNOOTH UNIVERSITY | 354742 - Times Higher Education