It takes parents a year to ‘tune in’ to their child’s feelings about starting school
Findings from a major Cambridge-led study inspired psychologists to co-produce a picture book that helps parents develop a deeper understanding of how their child is coping with the first year of school.
Human Anatomy Teaching Administrator
The Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience is seeking to appoint a self-motivated, enthusiastic person to join our friendly Human Anatomy Centre team. The facility delivers first and second year anatomy and neuroanatomy courses to an intake of around 320 pre-clinical medical students each year, and supports both research projects and external courses for a wide range of medical professionals. This is an exciting opportunity for someone looking for an interesting and varied role within a busy teaching environment.
Reporting to the Human Anatomy Centre Manager, and working closely with the University Clinical Anatomists and the organisers of preclinical anatomy and neuroanatomy, the role-holder will provide valuable support to help ensure the smooth running of the Centre. Duties will be diverse and will include providing administrative support to the anatomy Course Organisers, as well as the body donation programme in the Centre.
The successful candidate will have excellent communication skills, with the ability to deal professionally and efficiently with enquiries from students, colleagues, bereaved relatives and medical professionals, and will work well in a small and inclusive team. They will also be highly organised and have a flexible approach to work, with an ability to move between tasks at short notice to meet deadlines. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and the ability to manage databases of sensitive and confidential data is also essential. Familiarity with medical terminology would be useful, but training in the work of the Centre will be provided, and a lack of directly related experience is not a bar to applying.
The appointment is offered on a permanent, full-time basis, though we also welcome applications from individuals who wish to be considered for part-time working (minimum 25 hours per week, over five days).
For informal enquiries please contact the Department's HR team at pdnhr@pdn.cam.ac.uk who will be happy to direct your enquiry.
Apply:
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
On the online form, in the suitability for the role section, you should explain the reasons for your application and how your knowledge, skills and experience match the requirements of the role. The full contact details for two professional referees should be provided; one of whom should be your current line manager. Please note that we will assume that you are happy for us to approach your referees at any stage, unless you indicate otherwise in the space provided on the form.
Closing date: Wednesday 21 May 2025.
Interviews will be held in person on Wednesday 4 June.
Please quote reference PM45845 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Research Assistant/Associate (Fixed Term)
Applications are invited for a Research Assistant/Associate position to work in the groups of Dr Felipe Karam Teixeira and Professor Richard Durbin at the Department of Genetics in central Cambridge.
The successful candidate will work on a Wellcome Trust-funded project that brings together the Karam Teixeira and Durbin groups to focus on dissecting how transposable elements shape the evolution of eukaryotic genomes. Dr Karam Teixeira's group uses Drosophila as a model to study transposable element biology, epigenetic regulation and inheritance, small RNA-based defence mechanisms, and germline biology in animals, while Prof Durbin's works on computational genomics and large scale genome science, including the development of new algorithms and statistical methods to study genome evolution. Moving forward, the labs are jointly building an interdisciplinary research team, which will combine large-scale experimental evolution studies and innovative computational methods, with the goal to uncover the breadth of transposon-derived variation and its role in functional genetic variation and genome evolution in animals.
A PhD in a biological science or computational science is essential for this role. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will be appointed at Research Assistant level, updated to Postdoctoral Research Associate level once their PhD has been awarded. The salary range for Research Assistants is £32,546 - £35,116 and for Research Associates this is £37,174 - £45,413 per annum.
Suitable candidates should have previous experience of genetic analysis of large scale genome sequence data and transposable element biology. They should be able to develop and apply at scale bioinformatic tools that identify and classify transposable elements, and the variation they create. Solid experience in programming with Bash and Python is also required and previous experience of vertebrate and invertebrate genomes would be beneficial.
The ideal candidate will be an independent researcher capable of managing a variety of raw and processed genomic data (including DNA-seq, RNA-seq, small RNA-seq, Hi-C, as well as long-read sequencing - RNA and DNA - data), and work productively with wet and dry researchers in an interdisciplinary research environment.
Further information about Dr Felipe Karam Teixeira's research group can be found here https://www.gen.cam.ac.uk/research-groups/research-groups/karam-teixeira
Further information about Professor Richard Durbin's research group can be found here https://www.gen.cam.ac.uk/research-groups/research-groups/durbin
Fixed Term: The funding for this position is available for 3 years in the first instance.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
For an informal discussion about this role, please contact Dr Felipe Karam Teixeira (fk319@cam.ac.uk) or Professor Richard Durbin (rd109@cam.ac.uk)
Please quote reference PC45860 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Research Associate (Fixed Term)
Applications are invited from an enthusiastic and highly motivated researcher to join the laboratory of Prof Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri. The Sferruzzi-Perri lab (https://www.pdn.cam.ac.uk/directory/amanda-sferruzzi-perri) focuses on understanding the aetiology of pregnancy complications and the regulation of developmental processes in a broader physiological and environmental contexts. The lab employs integrative approaches combining environmental mouse models and human pregnancy samples with cutting edge molecular, cellular and physiological techniques.
The successful candidate will join a collaborative multidisciplinary team investigating how placental development and function contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes in cases affected by hypoxia or elevated heat exposure.
Candidates should hold a PhD (or be close to completion) or a first degree in a relevant field, with a strong background in pregnancy or developmental physiology research. A proven track record of research productivity and the ability to lead diverse but complementary projects to completion is essential.
Experience in in vivo experimentation with rodents, RNA sequencing (or other high-throughput technologies), bioinformatic analysis, and the handling of large datasets is essential. Proficiency in ex vivo tissue analysis, cell and organoid culture, and gene targeting (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9) is highly desirable. Additional experience in animal husbandry, possession of a Home Office Personal Licence, and handling of human clinical samples would be advantageous.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Applications should include a personal statement highlighting suitability to the post, detailed CV and the names and addresses of two academic referees. The position is available from September 2025 for 18 months in the first instance.
The closing date for applications is 30th May 2025.
For further details, please email Prof Sferruzzi-Perri at: ans48@cam.ac.uk.
Please quote reference PM45843 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
2025-05-03 14:30 - Transdisciplinary Think Tank with Professor Bem Le Hunte
2025-05-06 13:00 - Are Doctrines Empirically Verifiable? Theology, Theory, and the Human Sciences
2025-05-10 12:30 - Hidden Cambridge: The Unusual, The Quirky, and the Downright Bizarre!
Research Assistant/Associate (Fixed Term)
The GOdogs group is looking to appoint researcher to our group which studies the genetics of obesity, starting with canine genetics but with a strong programme of allied human comparative genetics and functional/molecular studies.
Whilst the focus of this recruitment drive is to find a candidate with genomics expertise, enquiries would also be welcome from molecular biologists interested in using their skills to pursue functional studies of new obesity genes (especially related to endocytosis and cell signalling).
We use GWAS and genetic approaches to identify novel genes responsible for obesity and other common conditions in pet dogs, then use comparative genomics to determine those genes also relevant to humans. Genes and variants responsible are studied in the molecular biology lab and by testing their effect on the physiology and eating behaviour of dogs. All our canine work is done with pet dogs, volunteered by their owners for study (not dedicated lab animals).
This post will be focussed on the genetics of appetite and obesity. Candidates should be of postdoctoral level with relevant experience of canine or/and human genomics, or molecular biology. Candidates without PhD but significant expertise in bioinformatics and genetics would also be considered.
For genetics-focussed candidates, subject knowledge in obesity/metabolism is welcome, but not essential. For molecular biology candidates, background knowledge relevant to understanding the molecular links between genes and obesity is more important.
We are a small group with diversity of background, interest and experience in which wider professional development and pursuit of your interests are encouraged alongside scientific rigour and excellence.
Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will be appointed at Research Assistant level, which will be amended to Research Associate once the PhD has been awarded.
Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Eleanor Raffan er311@cam.ac.uk. Candidates interested in part time or flexible working are encouraged to discuss this in advance of application.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
To apply for this post, please submit a CV and a covering letter detailing why you want to be part of this project and how this post will be a good stepping-stone for your career. We also need the contact details for two people who can provide a professional reference.
The closing date for applications is 26th May 2025.
Please quote reference PM45840 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Building Support (Fixed Term)
The Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit is an internationally renowned institution focused on the delivery of field-changing mechanistic insights into toxicology and disease.
We are currently looking to appoint to the position of Building Support. This is a busy and varied role carrying out a range of duties to support the effective operation and day to day upkeep of the Unit.
Duties include having responsibility for building security; ensuring safety rules are observed; supporting the goods inwards service; maintaining lab consumables; making sure that the building is kept clean and well maintained; undertaking minor maintenance tasks and ensuring building equipment is serviced as necessary; assisting with the set-up of rooms for events and liaising with contractors as required.
You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, be well organised and a reliable team player. You should be educated GCSE level including English and Mathematics/NVQ level 2 or equivalent level of practical experience. Experience of carrying out minor maintenance works is essential as is the ability to perform basic DIY tasks.
The post is part of the team rota for out of hours services and you will therefore need to be able to respond to on call duties as required.
This post is fixed-term with funding available until 31 March 2027 in the first instance.
The University offers a range of staff benefits which includes competitive rates of pay with automatic service-related pay progression and annual cost of living increases and an annual leave allowance of 36 days paid leave (including bank holidays).
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact hradmin@mrc-tox.cam.ac.uk
Further information can be found on our website: https://www.mrc-tox.cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PU45832 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Junior Clinical Training Scholar in Farm Animal Health and Production
Scholarship award: £21,970.00 per annum (Tax Exempt), inclusive of the accommodation package.
Start date: from September 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter, for 12 months
Applications are invited for this 12-month Scholarship programme, which provides an opportunity for new graduates or recently qualified veterinarians to receive high-quality postgraduate training in farm animal studies under the supervision of experienced farm animal clinicians in the Cambridge Farm Animal Veterinary Services ambulatory and referral practice at the University of Cambridge. The emphasis of the programme is on gaining practical clinical experience in farm animal medicine and herd health and will allow the Scholar to identify specific fields of farm animal work in which to specialise, either in preparation for Senior Clinical Training Scholarship programmes, or for specialist private practice.
The internship will cover:
- Case involvement of individual production animals, including emergency and critical care, surgery, anaesthesia, diagnostics, internal medicine and obstetrics
- Involvement in a busy and expanding first opinion farm animal practice and referral hospital
- Training and practice in population medicine and herd health management, with an emphasis on evidence-based medicine
- Experience in teaching and communication
- Basic tuition in research methods and scientific writing
- Opportunity to design and undertake research projects
Summary of benefits
- Competitive tax-free stipend including accommodation in Central Cambridge and bills included package
- Good work-life balance with manageable weekend and night work
- University library and journal access
- 2 weeks of elective/dedicated research time on top of holidays
- Academic opportunities, e.g. teach Cambridge students during rotations and College supervisionopportunities; weekly department research and clinical seminars; journal and book clubs
- Proven track-record with publications and research projects with guidance on presentation and scientific writing skills
- Assigned intern supervisor: - regular progress meetings, interview practice, provision of professional references and CV/cover letter proof reading by experienced senior clinicians to aid residency applications
- Generous CPD allowance and encouragement to present at scientific meetings
To learn more about the Farm Animal Veterinary Services and the Department, please visit: https://www.hospital.vet.cam.ac.uk/farm-animal.
Informal enquiries should be directed to: Ian McCrone, by email: ism27@cam.ac.uk.
Applicants must be a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons or hold a veterinary degree qualifying them for membership.
A JCTS Application Form (JCTS 1) and Information Pack can be downloaded from the following website: https://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/job.
Applicants should supply a completed Junior Clinical Training Scholarship Application Form (JCTS 1), a CV and Covering Letter giving reasons for wishing to undertake the JCTS in the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge.
Applications should be submitted via e-mail to: vetmed@vet.cam.ac.uk with the above documents as one attachment, by the closing date stated. Please quote reference PP45804 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The deadline for applications is midnight on Monday 26th May 2025. Interviews will be held Monday 9th June 2025.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications or extend it if we do not receive a sufficient number of applications. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
Please note: The ability to take up this Scholarship is contingent upon you being able to evidence your right to work in the UK, or through gaining the right to work via the UK immigration system. Evidence will need to be provided before an offer can be made. Regrettably, this Scholarship is not suitable for sponsorship via the Skilled Worker or Temporary Worker visa routes as the minimum requirements cannot be met.
Postdoctoral Research Associate: Global Coastal Wetlands Research Group
A Research Associate post is available in the Global Coastal Wetlands Research Group directed by Thomas Worthington in the Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge.
The applicant will work on large-scale understanding of coastal wetlands - primarily mangrove forests and tidal marshes. This will include mapping and modelling of distribution, value, condition, and opportunities for restoration. The work will be highly collaborative, notably with The Nature Conservancy, but also with academic, NGO, and other partners.
The Project's main goal will be to improve our understanding of these ecosystems as a means to support conservation interventions, including protection and restoration. Outputs will inform both international and local interventions, for the benefit of biodiversity and the many stakeholders who benefit from these ecosystems. The successful candidate will have a PhD in a relevant subject such as interdisciplinary ocean science, or ecology and preferably a good understanding of the conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems. The successful candidate will also require strong technical skills in terms of statistical and spatial analyses, and the ability to coordinate and manage large datasets.
The successful candidate will be based in the Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI)'s David Attenborough Building in central Cambridge, which provides exceptional opportunities for applied interdisciplinary collaboration. The candidate will have the opportunity develop a large network of research collaborators based at universities and non-governmental organizations. The work is on site.
There will be the potential for the Research Associate to work with researchers based at The Nature Conservancy, contributing to research across different themes, which will include looking across the seascape at the three main coastal wetlands - tidal marshes, mangroves, and seagrasses.
When applying please pay special attention to the personal specifications as these form the basis of the selection process. Please explain clearly how you meet the essential and, where possible, the desirable criteria. Please do not include degree certificates and transcripts, or pdfs of published papers as these will not be reviewed.
Flexible working requests will be considered.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
If you have any queries regarding the application process please contact Anastasia Nezhentseva.
Email: an286@cam.ac.uk Telephone: (0)1223 330117
Please quote reference PF45834 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Research Programme Manager (Fixed Term)
Applications are invited for a Research Programme Manager to support and manage the programme of research at the Adaptive Brain Lab: ABL (http://abg.psychol.cam.ac.uk) and the AI-deas BrainHealth Hub (https://www.abg.psychol.cam.ac.uk/brainhealth-hub) in the Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge.
You will have responsibility for co-ordinating research activity, managing a number of large scale grants and providing a broad range of administrative services to support our diverse and cross-disciplinary research programme in day-to-day running. The our team works in the area of cognitive neuroscience with an emphasis on understanding the neural basis of human learning and cognition. In collaboration with computer scientists, engineers and clinicians the lab leads a cross-disciplinary research programme for early prediction of brain health disorders.
The Research Programme Manager is a wide-ranging position, which would suit a self-motivated, dynamic individual who is experienced in working in a diverse team and able to perform effectively under multiple demands. This includes pre- and post-award research grant administration, co-ordinating the production of research documentation, financial management of resources, organising research ethics and databases and ensuring research compliance for studies. You will manage large scale grants in order to ensure efficient and effective operation of the lab, develop strategy in relation to funding applications, and co-ordinate team science activities (e.g. meetings, workshops) across research teams and external partners (e.g. industry, charities).
You should be educated to first degree level and have some administrative experience, ideally within a research setting. Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise tasks effectively, meet objectives and milestones are essential, as is a meticulous attention to detail. Comprehensive IT skills for administration including the use of databases are required. You will have a high standard of numeracy with proven ability in budget creation and managing resources are essential. You are expected to demonstrate a proven ability to summarise information and provide advice, manage and communicate with diverse teams, meet deadlines and support delivery of research outputs and provide a high level of professional service in the daily management of ABL.
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 24 months in the first instance.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a covering letter in the Upload section of the online application. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application.
For informal inquiries, please contact Professor Zoe Kourtzi at zk240@cam.ac.uk
Closing Date: Thursday 15th May 2025 at 12 Midnight
Interview Date to be confirmed
Please quote reference PJ45823 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Client Services Administrator
We have an exciting opportunity for a personable and effective administrator to work in the Client Services function of the Queen's Veterinary School Hospital (QVSH). This position is full-time and operates on a rota system to cover the hospital reception's opening hours, which are currently Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 7:00pm.
The Client Service Administrator is the first point of contact within the Small Animal Hospital aiming to provide a first-class customer service, rotating between front desk and telephone to provide all front-of-house services, therefore a friendly, calm and confident communicator is essential. You will be responsible for receiving incoming calls and emails, processing payments, booking appointments, and liaising with clients, referring veterinary practices, QVSH clinicians, nurses and students. You should have experience of working in a busy administrative role, have excellent customer care skills, be numerate, accurate and have an eye for detail.
You must be efficient and experienced in Microsoft Office packages and have the ability to establish professional and effective working relationships with the wider team. Excellent organisation skills, attention to detail and flexibility are all essential parts of the role.
In return, we offer an encouraging and nurturing environment and have a dedicated team of clinicians and nurses who are committed to providing the best care for our patients.
Benefits: - Generous paid annual leave including bank holidays - Defined benefit pension scheme - Enhanced family friendly policies - Access to a dedicated Personal and Professional Development team - Wellness programme including Occupational Health team and Staff counselling - Staff discount scheme including shopping vouchers - Cycle to work scheme - Travel to work loans - Eye care voucher scheme - Discounted gym membership
There may also be a requirement to participate in a weekend working, for which additional remuneration will be made in line with the University Policy.
For informal enquiries please contact the Clinical HR Team, by email on: qvsh.hr@vet.cam.ac.uk. Please quote reference PP45802 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Please outline in your job application how you meet the essential criteria set out in the Further Particulars.
Further particulars for the role and information about the Department visit: www.vet.cam.ac.uk.
Closing date for applications: Midnight on 11th of May. Interviews will be held on the 21st of May.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications or extend it if we do not receive a sufficient number of applications. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Plant Development (Fixed Term)
Applications are invited for a Research Associate position in the group of Dr Alexander Jones at the Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge University. Applicants must have or be close to obtaining a PhD in Plant Biology, Biochemistry, Systems Biology, Genetics, or related field. Where a PhD has yet to be awarded the appointment will initially be made at Research Assistant level (Grade 5) and amended to Research Associate (Grade 7) upon the award of PhD.
The cellular dynamics of the plant hormones underpin all aspects of plant development and environmental responses. Targeted perturbations of phytohormones such as abscisic acid and auxin have great potential to reprogram plant development. The project involves two aims: (1) discovery of how plant hormones respond to environmental stresses that are expected in the more extreme climates of the future and (2) redesigning root development via fine-scale perturbations of hormone dynamics with minimal off-target effects. The Jones group at SLCU has recently engineered a series of high-resolution FRET biosensors to track such dynamics for gibberellin, abscisic acid, auxin and salicylic acid in living plants.
The Jones group combines imaging of FRET biosensors with high-resolution genetic and biochemical perturbations to understand phytohormone cellular dynamics. This post will involve use of existing plants expressing biosensors to illuminate previously undetectable cellular and subcellular hormone patterns in vivo. The project's outcomes will be a mechanistic understanding of how and why hormone accumulations or depletions are modulated in space and time and application of this understanding to reprogram root developmental plasticity. We also collaborate with mathematicians to build multi-scale understanding of these complex and important signaling pathways.
For general information, please see a recent talk by Dr. Jones on YouTube (from 1hr30min to 2hrs of the video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLL-mJ7KaE&list=PLoARHFjEDBUWi7F6lLrY-3rseZfF1HX3) and consult the Jones team website (https://www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/research/jones-group).
Foundations in molecular biology and confocal microscopy are required, alongside a willingness and ability to learn and work with new methodologies. We particularly welcome candidates with advanced knowledge of and a proven track record in hormone biology or root development. Proficiency in plant developmental biology generally, molecular cloning, synthetic biology, systems biology, computational modelling, and image analysis would also be valuable to the role.
The successful applicant will be an excellent team player, highly solution orientated and self-motivated. Excellent interpersonal skills are essential, alongside the ability to work independently and with others, with a high degree of accuracy including outstanding record keeping. The Jones group is looking for a person keen to work in a highly collaborative set-up and enthusiastic to join our diverse and interdisciplinary team. Solid communication skills are required to interact with group members and other researchers at SLCU with different scientific backgrounds. Candidates should also demonstrate a history of science communication (e.g. presentations, outreach activities, teaching).
The Laboratory provides a welcoming and collaborative environment with a wide-range of family-friendly benefits and development opportunities. More about the Sainsbury Laboratory and details of what the University offers to employees, can be found at: http://www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/.
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Scientific enquiries apart from the formal application should be directed to alexander.jones@slcu.cam.ac.uk.
For questions regarding the application process, please email HR@slcu.cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PT45791 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
2025-05-06 17:30 - Echoes on the map: unveiling the auditory history of late Ottoman Istanbul through digital cartography
2025-05-07 18:00 - Queer Classics on Film: Sebastiane
2025-05-03 10:00 - Pollinators Craft Workshop
Research Assistant/ Research Associate in Placental Biology (Fixed Term)
Join our team as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant/Associate in Placental Biology.
The McGovern and Aiken labs are seeking a talented and motivated Postdoctoral Research Assistant /Associate in placental biology to join our teams. Our research aims to understand host-pathogen interactions at the maternal-fetal interface and factors mediating placental development and function.
The McGovern & Aiken Labs:
The team of Naomi McGovern is based at the Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge. It focuses on characterising human placental cells and determining how they fight transplacental infection. This includes work with trophoblast organoids, placental macrophages, Listeria monocytogenes and human cytomegalovirus. To develop our understanding of these cells, we utilise a range of technologies including proteomic, transcriptomic and epigenetic approaches.
https://www.path.cam.ac.uk/research/immunology-division/mcgovern-group
The team of Catherine Aiken is based at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge. They investigate the mechanisms by which sub-optimal nutrition in early life can affect reproductive ageing, the impact of this on population health and effects across generations.
About the role:
Your project will aim to develop human trophoblast culture systems. You will generate and characterise trophoblast culture systems from first trimester and term placentas. You will use these models to understand how placental cells respond to infection and certain drugs, and how these responses change across gestation. You will use a range of techniques including confocal microscopy, bioinformatics and infection assays in CL2 facilities.
Main duties:
- Generate, maintain and characterise organoid and macrophage culture systems.
- Design, implementation, and application of infection and drug assays.
- Statistical analysis and data visualisation.
- To identify, develop and apply a broad range of techniques to pursue the research objectives.
- To present scientific work at seminars within the laboratory and at external meetings.
- To contribute to laboratory-wide discussions on developments within the field.
- To draft scientific papers and contribute to the overall preparation of research for publication.
- To contribute to public engagement events.
- To assist in the training of PhD students and other members of the team.
Further information can be found in the attached Further Particulars document.
You will have:
- A PhD in immunology or cellular biology, or near completion.
- Experience with 'omics data sets.
- A proven track record of research (e.g., publication record)
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Experience working with advanced tissue culture systems, e.g. organoids
- Ability to work as part of a team.
Please note, applicants who are close to PhD submission are welcome to apply. Without PhD submission, appointment would be made at Grade 5 Research Assistant until submission.
Desirable:
- Experience in working with infection assays such as HCMV or Listeria monocytogenes.
Why join us?
- Contribute to cutting-edge immunology research with real-world implications.
- Collaborate with experts across the fields of immunology, virology, microbiology, and placental biology.
- Work in a supportive and collaborative environment that fosters professional growth.
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.
Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a health assessment.
Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Any informal queries regarding this position should be directed to Dr Naomi McGovern: nm390@cam.ac.uk
Queries regarding the application process should be directed to Miss Ellie Watson (HR Administrator): ew649@cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PK45798 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Departmental Facilities Assistant (Fixed Term, 1 year)
Be part of something different!
The Department of Zoology is one of the largest Departments in the School of Biological Sciences and has a highly active research and teaching programme. The Museum is one of Cambridge's major attractions. Join our team of committed Professional Services Staff which offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the success of the Zoology at Cambridge.
We have an exciting opportunity for a proactive and enthusiastic individual to join our Facilities Management team. You will have good DIY skills, and a basic understanding of plant rooms, but more importantly the willingness to learn. Duties will include daily checks of plant equipment, general maintenance, minor redecoration, fire safety testing and porterage. You will be part of our growing Building Services team, and you will liaise with contractors, Estates Division staff and departmental staff.
You will have a customer focused approach, and ideally, you will have worked in a similar role. You will be IT literate, although training will be given in the use of specific systems. Experience working in the University or in a laboratory setting would be advantageous, but it is not a requirement. You will have technical aptitude and the ability to work with minimal supervision and as part of a team. Good communication skills, good time keeping, showing flexibility and remaining calm under pressure are essential.
This full-time position requires the post-holder to work on-site Monday to Friday, with a starting time between 7.30 and 8.30am, and availability for attendance for out-of-hours work may be necessary on occasions.
As an employee, you will have access to a range of excellent University of Cambridge benefits, including a generous holiday allowance, comprehensive maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave entitlement, various family-friendly schemes (e.g., workplace nurseries), an auto-enrolment pension scheme with a generous employer contribution, shopping discounts at over 2,000 local and national stores, the opportunity to participate in the cycle-to-work scheme, access to University of Cambridge training and many more.
We offer a welcoming work environment where you will feel valued, are encouraged to develop, and supported to achieve your full potential.
If you have the skills, experience and personality to succeed in this role we would be delighted to hear from you.
Informal conversations are welcomed. Please contact Glyn Theobald, Building Services Manager (gt465@cam.ac.uk), to hear more about this role.
For more details please refer to the Further Information below.
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 1 year.
Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a basic disclosure (criminal records check) check, a health assessment and a standard Disclosure and Barring Service check.
Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University.
Flexible working requests will be considered.
We particularly welcome applications from women and candidates from a BME background for this vacancy as they are currently under-represented at this level in our University.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
If you have any queries regarding the application process please contact Anastasia Nezhentseva.
Email: an286@cam.ac.uk Telephone: (0)1223 330117
Please quote reference PF45805 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Research Assistant (Part Time, Fixed Term)
We are seeking a motivated and skilled research assistant to join our interdisciplinary team working on the development of a novel mathematical model to estimate water table depth in global peatlands. The successful candidate will contribute to the project through advanced image processing of the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite product and the application of linear mixed-effects models and machine learning algorithms. These methods will be merged to support the derivation of an analytical equation for water table depth estimation.
The ideal candidate will have experience in image processing, statistical modelling, and machine learning. Familiarity with field data collection or related environmental sciences is highly desirable. Additionally, experience with API development and basic web design would be advantageous, as the final product will be delivered as an accessible digital tool for farmers and related researchers.
This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of data science, environmental modelling, and field research, contributing to a high-impact project aimed at supporting peatland management.
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 6 months in the first instance.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Please notice that if you have not received any news from us 1 month after the closing date you should consider that on this occasion your application has not been successful.
Please quote reference PD45801 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
