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School of the Biological Sciences

 

Research Assistant/Associate - Genome regulation

We are looking for a talented and motivated postdoctoral scientist to join the lab of Dr Emma Rawlins.

The Rawlins lab studies lung development and lung stem cells with a particular focus on using human organoid models to study cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling development and repair. We have recently developed a series of innovative human lung organoid models and accompanying CRISPR tools which will further enable the study of human lung disease.

The specific, short-term, project will focus on the role of hypoxia in human lung epithelial development and disease. It will focus on the mechanisms underlying the response of primary human lung organoids to low oxygen conditions. The project will be very focused on a specific set of experiments which need to be completed within 1 year, including use of CRISPR tools and single cell RNA sequencing.

You should have a PhD in a relevant subject, or be close to completion of your degree. Successful candidates who have not been awarded their PhD by the appointment date will be appointed as a Research Assistant at Grade 5 (£32,982 per annum). Upon award of the PhD the individual will be promoted to Research Associate, Grade 7 (£36,024-£44,263 per annum).

You should be passionate about developmental/stem cell biology, be willing to tackle difficult problems and be able to develop novel experimental approaches to answer outstanding questions. Prior experience with culture of organoids derived from primary tissue, CRISPR genome editing, flow cytometry and next-generation sequencing would be highly advantageous given the short-term nature of the project. You will play a key role in a highly collaborative research programme, so a friendly and collegial attitude is crucial.

Activities include:

¿ Collaborating with lab members on research projects. ¿ Providing experimental or technical support to other lab members. ¿ Providing technical expertise and input to develop, optimise and troubleshoot relevant and novel methodologies. ¿ Independently undertaking own research project, designing, and executing experiments in consultation with the group leader. ¿ Participating in academic activities, including group meetings and journal clubs, seminars, and scientific meetings. ¿ Writing up findings and completing revisions. ¿ Maintaining laboratory organisation, supplies, and safety procedures ¿ Training new and existing lab members in standard operating procedures

This is a highly collaborative position, so excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential. You should be a motivated and organised individual with expertise in a broad range of molecular and cell biology techniques and have the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. Experience in organoid culture and CRISPR techniques are highly desirable. Candidates should have a PhD in a relevant discipline, or be close to completion of their degree, and have a capacity to apply initiative and creativity to solve technical and biological problems.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 1 year 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 quote reference PR43333 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 in morphogenesis

Applications are invited for a Research Associate in Dr Fengzhu Xiongs' Developmental Mechanics group at the Gurdon Institute at University of Cambridge. The group focuses on studying the cellular and physical mechanisms of morphogenesis in development using quantitative approaches (https://www.gurdon.cam.ac.uk/people/fengzhu-xiong).

As soft matter, embryonic tissues need to produce forces and regulate mechanical properties to drive shape changes during development. The mechanisms of tissue mechanics can reside on different scales (molecular, cellular, tissue) and may come from unexpected sources (neighbouring tissues, extraembryonic environment). Much remains to be learned about how cell dynamics produce and regulate these forces and tissue mechanical properties, and how robust tissue shapes are achieved.

We are now seeking a motivated postdoc to join our interdisciplinary team. The successful candidate will conduct cutting edge research with a high level of independence and close support of the PI, with focuses including but not limited to: 1. design and implementation of mechanical measurements and perturbations in live embryos; 2. develop mechanical models of morphogenesis integrating data from quantitative imaging of cell dynamics; 3. identify cellular and molecular mechanisms of tissue mechanics. This is an ideal position for an aspiring scientist who has ambitions to solve important challenges in biology by innovatively applying their previous training.

Candidates are expected to hold (or soon to be awarded) a PhD in a related STEM subject. Applicants should provide evidence of a strong interest in developmental biology questions by demonstrating relevant experiences and expertise, and articulating their career vision at the interface of biology and physics in the cover letter. Experience in imaging and image analysis, particularly using advanced computational techniques, and working knowledge of chicken and zebrafish embryo systems are highly desired.

Applicants should have excellent communication skills and should be able to work both independently and as part of a team.

Successful candidates who have not been awarded their PhD by the appointment date will be appointed as a Research Assistant at Grade 5 (£32,982 per annum). Upon award of the PhD the individual will be promoted to Research Associate, Grade 7 (£36,024-£44,263 per annum).

This position is available for 1 year at the first instance.

Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Fengzhu Xiong via fx220@cam.ac.uk

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Please quote reference PR43297 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.

Assistant Facilities Coordinator (Fixed Term)

The Milner Therapeutics Institute (MTI) is seeking to recruit a Assistant Facilities Coordinator. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated individual to support the maintenance of the Institute, to ensure research is delivered effectively. Also, to become part of a pioneering, forward-thinking and strategic workforce, that is continuously evolving and growing.

The MTI is unique working environment, with start-up businesses, academics and pharma companies working side by side across shared office and laboratory space. The overarching vision of the MTI is to convert pioneering science into therapies. The Institute delivers this through its aims to connect industry and academia, enable and drive collaborative research and accelerate therapeutic companies. We are a purpose-built research Institute located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

Assistant Facilities Coordinator reports to Scientific Facilities Coordinator. The role provides key support to a diverse mix of industry and academic research groups which come together in the MTI towards the overarching vision. This support includes maintaining consistent, clean and safe availability of all key equipment, consumables and spaces required by the researchers. These requirements are subject to regular change, as MTI occupancy refreshes more often than usual academic departments. The role will also be deputised tasks to support the Scientific Facilities Coordinator in the running of the Milner Therapeutics Institute Scientific Facilities Team.

There are systems and processes established to enable the objective of support provisoin, and the role holder and will work with the Scientific Facilities Coordinator and team to develop those processes for continuous improvement at this dynamic laboratory. The role holder must follow, be aware of and encourage compliance with various different frameworks for good practice..

The role is full-time hours 36.5 hours per week working onsite.

For further information on responsibilities & person specification please look at the further particulars before applying.

The University of Cambridge is a signatory to the Technician Commitment and as such is focusing on the areas of recognition, visibility, career development and sustainability. The Milner Therapeutics Institute will support the right candidate with relevant training during the Research Lab Technicians career.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are 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.

Informal enquiries can be directed to the Milner HR team via hr@milner.cam.ac.uk.

Please quote reference PR43141 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 Laboratory Technician (Fixed Term)

The Milner Therapeutics Institute (MTI) is seeking to recruit a Research Laboratory Technician. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated individual to support the maintenance of the Institute, to ensure research is delivered effectively. Also, to become part of a pioneering, forward-thinking and strategic workforce, that is continuously evolving and growing.

The MTI is unique working environment, with start-up businesses, academics and pharma companies working side by side across shared office and laboratory space. The overarching vision of the MTI is to convert pioneering science into therapies. The Institute delivers this through its aims to connect industry and academia, enable and drive collaborative research and accelerate therapeutic companies. We are a purpose-built research Institute located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

The Research Laboratory Technician reports to Scientific Facilities Coordinator. The role provides key support to a diverse mix of industry and academic research groups which come together in the MTI towards the overarching vision. This support includes maintaining consistent and safe availability of all key equipment, consumables and spaces required by the researchers. These requirements are subject to regular change, as MTI occupancy refreshes. There are systems and processes established to enable this objective to provide support, and the Research Laboratory works with the Scientific Facilities Coordinator and team to develop those processes for continuous improvement at this dynamic laboratory. The role holder must follow, be aware of and encourage compliance with various different frameworks for good practice. The role will also include a small amount administrative duties within the Scientific Facilties Team.

The role is full-time hours 36.5 hours per week working onsite.

For further information on responsibilities & person specification please look at the further particulars before applying.

The University of Cambridge is a signatory to the Technician Commitment and as such is focusing on the areas of recognition, visibility, career development and sustainability. The Milner Therapeutics Institute will support the right candidate with relevant training during the Research Lab Technicians career.

Limited funding: Funding 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 informal enquiries about this role please contact Larissa Richardson at lr280@milner.cam.ac.uk.

Please quote reference PR42993 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.

Group Leader Research Fellowship Sponsorship

The Gurdon Institute is seeking to appoint two Group Leaders in the field of human developmental biology.

With a history dating back more than 30 years, the Gurdon Institute is internationally renowned for its research into developmental and disease biology. Maintaining its ethos as a crucible for scientific innovation and translation, the Institute will evolve its research towards an emphasis on human developmental biology. This is interpreted broadly and includes research that impacts directly or indirectly on human embryology, tissue morphogenesis and organ development, regeneration, ageing and disease processes. Our approach will continue to combine a wide range of methodologies, from the study of model organisms and 3D organ culture systems.

To develop this programme, we are seeking to recruit two Group Leaders with complementary interests, who are interactive, and for whom we feel that we can provide the best support to advance their career. Upon attainment of an early career fellowship, successful applicants will join the Institute and become a member of a partnering Department. At present, the Gurdon Institute comprises Group Leaders from across a range of partnering Departments including Biochemistry, Genetics, Pathology, and Physiology, Development and Neuroscience (PDN), as well as Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics.

Successful applicants will be invited to apply for career fellowships such as those provided by the Royal Society, Wellcome, the ERC and UKRI. The Gurdon Institute will provide guidance and practical support throughout the application process and designated lab space upon successful attainment of a research grant. Group Leaders will also have full access to all Institute facilities (next-generation sequencing, microscopy, flow cytometry and FACS), as well as the School's shared technology platforms and be supported by an exceptional team of Professional Services staff.

Researchers who are already in receipt of fellowship funding and wish to relocate to the Institute should contact the Director (director@gurdon.cam.ac.uk).

The University of Cambridge provides access to world-class PhD programmes and is a magnet for outstanding postdoctoral researchers. New Group Leaders holding qualifying Early Career Fellowships will be enrolled on the School's Fellowship Framework (https://www.bio.cam.ac.uk/files/researchfellowshipsframework.pdf), which provides a platform to nurture their development as independent group leaders and a pathway towards securing a permanent faculty post. You will also have access to the network of research Themes (https://www.bio.cam.ac.uk/research/research-themes), which provide the opportunity for wider collegiate and collaborative engagement across and beyond the School.

For those interested in pursuing this opportunity, please follow this link: https://shorturl.at/5yrHV with a closing date of October 15th 2024. Applicants should submit a CV with a list of publications and a research proposal (2 pages including figures) to director@gurdon.cam.ac.uk.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to give a research presentation and chalk talk and will meet with Group Leaders at the Institute as well as with colleagues in potential partnering Departments.

Please note that Group Leader Research Fellowship recruitment is a rolling process, and we are always happy to receive informal enquiries at any time about sponsorship for future rounds. Those interested are invited to contact the Institute Director (director@gurdon.cam.ac.uk).

Please quote reference PR42803 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.

Morning Receptionist (Part Time)

A rare and exciting opportunity has arisen to join a busy and friendly research institute as a morning receptionist with some administrative duties.

We are seeking a flexible and enthusiastic team player, who is willing to learn and develop as part of a wider group of friendly and highly skilled professional services staff. If you think that describes you then this is an amazing opportunity to gain experience in a dynamic and skilled environment, so apply today or contact hr@gurdon.cam.ac.uk for an informal discussion about the role.

As the first point of contact for the Institute, you will need excellent communication and interpersonal skills and be professional and friendly.

Essential skills for this post are:

  • Excellent customer service skills
  • Willingness to be flexible and versatile
  • Highly organised
  • Capacity to remain patient and tactful at all times and maintain confidentiality
  • Ability to multi-task, work under pressure and learn new skills quickly
  • Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal)
  • Ability to communicate in a friendly and professional manner with everyone
  • Computing skills

The successful applicant will open reception at 8:30. Reception closes at 17:00, Monday to Friday. The post will cover the morning hours from 8:30 to 12:45 (21.25 hours per week). Some flexibility in covering some of the hours of the afternoon post (12:45 to 17:00) during holiday periods would be desirable.

The position is permanent and available immediately.

If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact the HR team (hr@gurdon.cam.ac.uk).

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Please quote reference PR42849 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.

Community Engagement Coordinator (Fixed Term)

Are you a self-motivated and creative person who is passionate about developing communities formed around research, technology and knowledge exchange?

As the Community Engagement Coordinator, you will support the development of Connect: Health Tech, a successful and growing global community of life science and technology researchers, scientists, entrepreneurs, knowledge facilitators, connectors, academics and industry experts. You will build and maintain relationships with members, maintaining engagement and activity across the community.

You will have demonstrable experience of growing engaged online communities using bespoke or off the shelf community management platforms. A highly experienced project coordinator able to multitask and prioritise, using your initiative and creativity to maximise outcomes. You will be adept at quickly building collaborative relationships with colleagues and the wider Connect: Health Tech community. Communications are key and you will have experience of communicating with a wide range of stakeholders using a variety of channels.

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated individual to support the growth and development of the Connect: Health Tech online community. We're looking for a team player, who isn't afraid to get stuck in to deliver our on collective objectives.

The applicant will need to have previous experience in a higher education or charity/non-profit environment. Experience of initiating, developing and maintaining stakeholder relationships, marketing and organising events is essential. The applicant will also need to be educated to degree level/level 6 vocational qualification. Excellent organising, communication and interpersonal skills. As well as high attention to detail and strong writing skills.

Connect: Health Tech (C:HT) is an online community bringing together people who are passionate and innovative in life science and health technologies. Starting out as a University of Cambridge initiative to connect expertise and disciplines from across its university campuses, today the platform supports a thriving global community of over 2,000 professionals.

Connect: Health Tech joins the dots between medicine and technology: making connections, fostering collaborations and catalysing ideas between biomedical research, cutting-edge technology and clinical need to transform and accelerate healthcare design, development and testing for real world applications.

The post will be based at the Milner Therapeutics Institute, a founding partner of Connect: Health Tech which provides physical and virtual space for dynamic partnerships and projects that will unlock the power of emerging therapeutics and technologies.

The MTI is a purpose-built biomedical research Institute at the University of Cambridge. The overarching vision of the MTI is to convert pioneering science into therapies. Dynamic and with a start-up environment and culture, the Institute works at the cutting edge of industry and academia to enable and deliver collaborative research, strategic projects and accelerate therapeutic companies ¿ bringing discoveries to life.

This role has funding for one year in the first instance and would make an ideal secondment opportunity for internal candidates who would like to apply for a secondment from their current role in the University.

This post is full-time and hybrid working. For further information on key responsibilities and person specification please check out the further particular's before applying!

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal enquiries can be directed to Paula Rogers-Brown pr469@cam.ac.uk, Head of Communities and Ecosystem Engagement.

Please quote reference PR42697 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.

Bioinformatician (Fixed Term)

The Milner Therapeutics Institute (MTI) is a purpose-built research institute at the University of Cambridge. The overarching vision of the MTI is to convert pioneering science into therapies. The newly established Functional Genomics Screening Laboratory (FGSL) at the MTI applies arrayed CRISPR screening to shed light into the mechanisms underlying tissue homeostasis and disease biology. Formed as a joint venture between Medical Research Council, AstraZeneca and the University of Cambridge, this new laboratory aligns with the MTI's approach of breaking the mould in terms of how academia and industry interact.

We are recruiting a Bioinformatician with interest in functional genomics to join the FGSL team. You will be applying your analytical skills to design experiments, develop new computational tools, analyse results, decipher patterns and generate new biological insights. You will have the opportunity to contribute to the collective lab portfolio in various disease areas with an umet need for therapies. This is a collaborative role where you will work with scientists from MTI, AstraZeneca and academics and small enterprises from across the UK. As a key member of the new team, you will have the opportunity to provide significant input in determining the direction of the lab.

The MTI is a buoyant, vibrant and fast-paced environment and is ideal for those who thrive in the face of change. This role would suit a problem solving minded and technically skillful individual with a desire to learn new skills in terms of dissecting and interpreting plate-based phenotypic screening datasets. We welcome applications from experienced bioinformatician or biologists with a significant computational experience, who are enthusiastic to work at the interface between academia and industry. Where needed, we will provide training to enable you to become the subject matter expert on computational methodologies to ensure the overall success of the team. We offer an engaging and supportive environment that fosters professional growth and career development.

To find out the full duties of the role and person specification, click below to view the further particulars.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are 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.

Informal enquiries can be directed to Chun Hao Wong, FGSL lead, wc389@cam.ac.uk.

Please quote reference PR42296 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 Services Technician

A rare and exciting opportunity has arisen for a versatile Building Services Technician to join our building maintenance/facilities team. The team provides an essential efficient, reliable and valued service to support high level researchers in our purpose-built laboratories located in central Cambridge.

We are seeking a flexible and enthusiastic team player, who is willing to learn and develop as part of a wider group of friendly and highly skilled professional services staff. If you think that describes you then this is an amazing opportunity to gain experience in a dynamic and skilled environment, so apply today or contact hr@gurdon.cam.ac.uk for an informal discussion about the role.

In summary, the position involves assisting in the preventative maintenance/repair of our highly serviced research building, performing routine checks and monitoring of plant equipment. The Building Services Technician will support the Building Services Manager with planned and reactive maintenance for all plant within our highly serviced research building to ensure the provision of a safe, legal and compliant working environment that meets good practice standards at all times.

This will include the maintenance or monitoring of heating, plumbing, and ventilation systems, general building infrastructure repairs, assisting with the installation of new often specialist research equipment, electrical testing and fault-finding of laboratory equipment.

Good communication skills and the willingness to learn are essential. Formal qualifications would be a benefit, but we also recognise the value of 'on the job experience'.

Once trained to a suitable level, the role holder will be required to take part in our out-of-hours response rota for plant failure, fire and equipment alarms.

The position is permanent and available immediately.

Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a health assessment.

We welcome applications from individuals who wish to be considered for part-time working or other flexible working arrangements.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Please quote reference PR42287 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.

Laboratory Automation Research Technician (Fixed Term)

The Milner Therapeutics Institute (MTI) is a purpose-built research institute at the University of Cambridge. The overarching vision of the MTI is to convert pioneering science into therapies. The newly established Functional Genomics Screening Laboratory (FGSL) at the MTI applies arrayed CRISPR screening to shed light into the mechanisms underlying tissue homeostasis and disease biology. Formed as a joint venture between Medical Research Council, AstraZeneca and the University of Cambridge, this new laboratory aligns with the MTI's approach of breaking the mould in terms of how academia and industry interact.

We are recruiting a laboratory automation research technician to join the FGSL team. You will be managing and maintaining the liquid handling platform to support phenotypic screening activities at the FGSL. You will work closely with scientists from MTI and AstraZeneca, collaborators, and vendors to develop and optimise automation workflow that are fit for purpose for high throughput plate-based assays. You will apply your analytical skills to identify and troubleshoot issues with liquid handling to ensure smooth running of experiments. As a key member of the new team, you will have the opportunity to shape the direction of the lab as well as contribute to the collective portfolio in a wide range of disease areas with unmet therapeutic needs.

The MTI is a buoyant, vibrant and fast-paced environment and is ideal for those who thrive in the face of change. This role would suit a problem-solving minded and technically skilful individual with experience working in a biological lab environment. We welcome applications from proactive individuals with a desire to acquire new skills and to specialise in high throughput automation. Training will be provided where needed so that the successful applicant can develop into the subject matter expert to fully support the team. We offer an engaging and supportive environment that fosters professional growth and career development.

To find out the full duties of the role and person specification, click below to view the further particulars.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are 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. Please submit a cover letter with your CV.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal enquiries can be directed to Chun Hao Wong, FGSL lead, wc389@cam.ac.uk.

Please quote reference PR42172 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.