Dr Stanley Strawbridge

School of Biosciences

Early Career Research Fellow

Dr Stanley Strawbridge
Profile picture of Dr Stanley Strawbridge
s.strawbridge@sheffield.ac.uk
Alfred Denny Building

Full contact details

Dr Stanley Strawbridge
School of Biosciences
Alfred Denny Building
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN
Profile
  • 2025 - Present: Group Leader and Early Career Research Fellow - The Physics of Life and Quantitative Biology
    School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, UK
  • 2022 - 2025: Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellow
    Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, UK
    Sponsors: Srinjan Basu, Alexander G. Fletcher, David Holcman, Jennifer Nichols
  • 2018 - 2022: Post-Doctoral Research Associate
    Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, UK
    Supervisors: Jennifer Nichols and Srinjan Basu
  • 2014 - 2018: PhD Biochemistry, Microsoft Research PhD Programme
    Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, UK
    Supervisors: Austin Smith, Graziano Martello, Hillel Kugler
  • 2012 - 2013: MSc Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing
    Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, UK
    Supervisors: Helen Byrne, Sarah Waters, Christopher Bell
  • 2007 - 2011: BS Biochemistry
    Davis College of Agriculture College, Natural Resources and Design, West Virginia University, US
  • 2007 - 2011: BS Mathematics 
    Eberly College of Arts and Science, West Virginia University, US
Qualifications

PhD

Research interests

I am a stem cell and developmental biologist with a dual background in biochemistry and mathematics.
My research explores how stem cells make decisions, the establishment of signalling gradients in embryos, and the transcription factor networks that govern cell states. I study developmental programs in both mouse and human systems, leveraging methods from advanced imaging, sequencing, applied mathematics, and machine learning.
I trained in stem cell biology (PhD, Austin Smith), developmental biology (PDRA, Jennifer Nichols), and super-resolution imaging (Henry Wellcome Fellow, Srinjan Basu) at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. I have also collaborated closely with mathematical biologist Alexander Fletcher on the development of computational tools and mathematical models for studying embryonic processes.
I joined the Centre for Stem Cell Biology at the University of Sheffield as a Group Leader and Early Career Research Fellow in the Physics of Life and Quantitative Biology. My research group aims to integrate molecular and embryonic scales to identify critical points at which embryos fail to develop or implant successfully, with the goal of advancing insights into developmental disorders and potential therapeutic interventions.
I am always enthusiastic about collaboration—whether empirical, computational, or theoretical. Please feel free to contact me at s.strawbridge@sheffield.ac.uk.

Research group

JOIN THE STRAWBRIDGE LAB

We welcome inquiries from motivated and curious researchers at any career stage who are eager to bring their ideas into an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment. If you're interested in joining us, please email me directly at s.strawbridge@sheffield.ac.uk to discuss potential projects and funding opportunities.


RESEARCH THEMES

Our lab is focused on quantifying and modelling early human development with interdisciplinary approaches. Key areas of interest include:

- Imaging and modelling morphogen gradients in dense tissues
- Cell population dynamics in the developing embryo
- The impact of aneuploidies in early human development
- Computational tools to quantify biological systems


HOW TO JOIN

If you are interested in applying for independent funding, please get in touch well in advance to discuss project ideas and application support.

Undergraduate Opportunities
- Sheffield Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE)
- L4 Projects (Final Year Undergraduate Research Projects) 
- NIH Postbac Program (recruitment currently paused)

Masters Research
We supervise projects through:
- MSc Reproductive and Development Biology
- MSc Molecular Medicine
- Marshall Scholarship (for US applicants)

PhD Positions
Funded PhD Studentships will be advertised on findaphd.com and social media: Bluesky, @stanleystrawbridge.bsky.social and X, @StanStrawbridge.

Postdoctoral Fellows
I am happy to support postdoctoral fellowship applications. Potential funding schemes include: 
EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships, Ernest Rutherford Fellowships, Human Frontier Science Program, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships, Marshall Sherfield Fellowships, Newton International Fellowships, Wellcome Early Career Awards.
 

Professional activities and memberships
  • 2024: Member of the Royal Society of Biology
  • 2024: Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • 2018: Member of the British Society for Developmental Biology