Research Assistant/Research Associate (Fixed Term)
The Sawarkar lab at the MRC Toxicology Unit is looking to appoint a Postdoctoral Molecular Cell Biology Scientist to contribute to its programme on Epigenetics, Neurodegeneration and Protein Misfolding.
The project will use state-of-the-art genomic technologies to identify molecular determinants that lead to protein misfolding in neurons. Using single-cell technologies for in vivo mouse models as well as embryonic stem cell differentiation models of neurodegeneration, the project will identify mechanisms leading to age-associated protein misfolding in neurons.
Your role will be to support the research activities of the group and conduct your own research projects within the remit of the research programme at the frontiers of molecular bioscience.
You will need to hold, or be close to completing, a PhD in an appropriate field (e.g. in vivo biology or physiology), together with hands-on experience in routine molecular cell biology techniques. You will be able to work both independently and as part of a team, have excellent communication, organisational and problem-solving skills and ideally have experience of working on an independent research project. Enthusiasm for working in a diverse inter-disciplinary team is desirable.
The MRC Toxicology Unit is an internationally renowned institution focused on the delivery of field-changing mechanistic insights into toxicology and disease. The Unit is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including mass spectrometry, microscopy, and bioinformatics, and offers excellent opportunities for scientific career development.
Appointment at Research Associate is dependent on having a PhD. Where a PhD has yet to be awarded or submitted, appointment will initially be made as a Research Assistant and amended to Research Associate when the PhD is awarded. Further information on the Toxicology Unit can be found at (https://www.mrc-tox.cam.ac.uk)
Relevant publications:
Rawat P, Boehning M, Hummel B, Aprile-Garcia F, Pandit AS, Eisenhardt N, Khavaran A, Niskanen E, Vos SM, Palvimo JJ, Pichler A, Cramer P, Sawarkar R. (2021) Stress-induced nuclear condensation of NELF drives transcriptional downregulation. Mol Cell. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.01.016.
Antonova A, Hummel B, Khavaran A, Redhaber D, Aprile Garcia F, Rawat P, Gundel K, Schneck M, Hansen E, Mitschke J, Mittler G, Miething C and Sawarkar R (2019) Heat-shock protein 90 controls the expression of cell-cycle genes by stabilizing metazoan-specific Host-Cell Factor HCFC1. Cell Reports. 29(6):1645-1659.e9.
Fixed-term: This post is funded by the ERC for two 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.
If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact hradmin@mrc-tox.cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PU38316 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
The Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit is an internationally renowned institution focussed on the delivery of field-changing mechanistic insights into toxicology and disease.
We are located in the newly refurbished Gleeson Building, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge and looking to appoint a Building Services Technician to ensure the smooth running of the mechanical services and to assist with general building maintenance.
Main duties of the role will include:
Preventive maintenance and first line repairs to mechanical engineering plant and equipment
Routine inspections e.g., water treatment, heating, air conditioning and ventilation etc. prioritise planned maintenance and carry out technical investigative work where necessary
Liaise with Estates Management/external contractors for the repair or routine servicing of plant and complete remedial work as required
Co-ordinate and monitor Permit to Work system
Carry out minor works and installations by self or contractors. Responsible for the technical specification, cost control, progress and final operational testing and certification of contractors' work
Assist the Building Services Technician with refurbishments, carry out minor workplace improvements and alterations.
Assist with stores receipt and distribution. Shipping of parcels, nationally and internationally.
Out of hours/on call emergency cover
You will be educated to A level standard with NVQ level 3 in a trade, or equivalent level of practical experience. You will have good IT skills and the ability to communicate effectively with contractors and staff at all levels.
This is an open-ended position funded by the MRC.
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 PU38156 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.
Proteomics Technical Lead
We are looking to appoint a Proteomics Technical Lead to join the Proteomics Facility at the MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge. The facility performs a fundamental role in tackling proteomic-based problems for the Unit's scientific programmes.
As the Proteomics Technical Lead you will work on several projects in response to the needs of our researchers and actively participate in mass spectrometry/proteomics method development. You will be responsible for sample preparation, reporting results to scientists, operating and maintaining specialist equipment and general laboratory management.
You will ideally be skilled in a broad range of methods in proteomics and biological mass spectrometry and chromatography and have excellent communication skills to enable to you work on projects which are often transient and time critical. You will need have a degree in a scientific discipline, preferably with a PhD. You will also be an excellent communicator and team player, with the ability to manage a laboratory including health and safety, purchasing and equipment maintenance.
The Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit is an internationally renowned institution focussed on the delivery of field-changing mechanistic insights into toxicology and disease and is based in the newly refurbished Gleeson building, central Cambridge.
This is an open-ended position funded by the MRC.
Further information on the Toxicology Unit can be found at https://www.mrc-tox.cam.ac.uk/facilities-services/proteomics
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
Please quote reference PU37808 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 (Fixed Term)
The Patil lab at the MRC-Toxicology Unit is looking for a Research Assistant to develop metabolic models of gut bacterial communities.
An adult individual typically harbours a few hundred grams of bacteria in their digestive tract. Recent findings have brought forward the fundamental role of the collective metabolism of this microbiota in health and disease. The complexity of the microbiota, however, poses a challenge in unravelling inter-species interactions. The goal of this project will be to build and apply genome-scale metabolic models of gut bacterial communities to understand the principles governing the composition-function relationship.
Applicants must hold, or be close to completing, a master's degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., computational biology, biotechnology) and have experience in microbial modelling. Experience in genome-scale metabolic modelling is desired. The Patil lab is home to researchers representing a wide range of expertise, ranging from mathematical modelling to metabolomics. Enthusiasm for working as a part of a diverse inter-disciplinary team is therefore a must.
The MRC Toxicology Unit is an internationally renowned institution focussed on the delivery of field-changing mechanistic insights into toxicology and disease. The Unit is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including mass spectrometry, microscopy, and bioinformatics, and offers excellent opportunities for scientific career development. Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for one year in the first instance. Further information on the Toxicology Unit can be found at (https://www.mrc-tox.cam.ac.uk)
Informal enquiries are invited and can be directed to Kiran Patil (kp533@cam.ac.uk).
Relevant publications:
Machado, D., Maistrenko, O.M., Andrejev, S., Kim, Y., Bork, P., Patil, K.R., and Patil, K.R¿. Polarization of microbial communities between competitive and cooperative metabolism. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 5, 195-203 (2021)
Zorrilla, F., Buric, F., Patil, K. R. & Zelezniak, A. metaGEM: reconstruction of genome scale metabolic models directly from metagenomes. Nucleic Acids Res 49, e126, doi:10.1093/nar/gkab815 (2021).
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 12 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.
If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact hradmin@mrc-tox.cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PU37805 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/Research Associate (Fixed Term)
We are looking to appoint a core-funded Research Assistant or postdoctoral Research Associate to generate single-cell transcriptomic data at the level of the individual T or B lymphocyte clone from mouse samples.
The post will be ideal for someone seeking experience in mouse immunology and keen to develop skills and experience in single-cell RNA sequencing. However, motivated candidates with a strong background in transcriptome library generation, mathematics/statistics, species ecology, or other relevant background, who are keen to extend their skills are encouraged to apply.
The Thaventhiran group contrasts the adaptive immune response of infection with sterile inflammatory challenges such as cancer and toxic injury. Our investigation of rare patients with monogenic causes of immune dysregulation has identified a number of genes that are immune checkpoints, since their loss-of function leads to adaptive immune cell activation (Spencer et al., J. Exp. Med., 2019; Thaventhiran et al., Nature, 2020). This has generated hypotheses regarding how the consequences of antigen-receptor signalling are modified by immune checkpoints. We have studied lymphocytes clonally responding to specific challenges, using single-cell RNA sequencing, in both mouse and human samples. Our interests have expanded to include the anti-COVID-19 antigen-specific cellular immune response (Buckland et al., Nature Comms., 2020, van der Klaauw et al., Nature Med. 2023, Yam-Puc et al., Nature Comms., 2023) and currently the lab is leading the SCORPIO study. (https://www.ukri.org/news/five-new-covid-19-vaccine-research-projects-announced/). Of particular relevance to this post is our preprint describing the AgRSR mouse (Takahshi et al., 2023). Interested candidates are strongly advised to get in contact with the PI Dr. James Thaventhiran (jedt2@cam.ac.uk) or Munetomo Takahashi (mt739@cam.ac.uk).
The MRC Toxicology Unit is an internationally renowned institution focused on the delivery of field-changing mechanistic insights into toxicology and disease. The Unit is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment including single cell RNA sequencing, advanced flow-cytometry, super resolution microscopy and offers excellent opportunities for postdoctoral development.
Applicants must hold, or be close to completing, a PhD in a relevant discipline such as immunology, computational biology, bioinformatics, ecology, or infectious disease. Where a PhD has yet to be awarded or submitted, appointment will initially be made as a Research Assistant and amended to Research Associate when a PhD is awarded. Those without a PhD may also be considered as a research assistant.
Numerous scientists will work alongside the post-holder and complement their skills, therefore working as part of a team within the laboratory environment is an essential attribute. The ability to work independently, within the scope of the candidates existing expertise, together with excellent communication and critical thinking skills are also essential.
Further information on the Toxicology Unit can be found at (https://www.mrc-tox.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.
If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact hradmin@mrc-tox.cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PU37771 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.
Histopathology Laboratory Technician
The MRC Toxicology Unit at the University of Cambridge is a world-leading centre for mechanistic biology, home to diverse research groups and cutting-edge facilities, and offers excellent opportunities for scientific career development. The Histopathology Facility offers a full range of standard and advanced tissue methods and in situ assays, which are made available to users within and outside the Toxicology Unit.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated technician to join the Histopathology Facility to provide technical support and to help ensure the smooth running of the facility.
About the role:
You will perform a wide range of specialised techniques and procedures including processing/microtomy of tissue sections and a full range of manual and automated staining, histochemical and immunohistochemical procedures. Other techniques include optimisation and utilisation of novel research methodologies and technologies to meet the diverse research needs of the MRC Toxicology Unit.
You will manage day-to-day activities within the Histopathology Facility, including:
¿ Conduct experiments on behalf of researchers ¿ Provide technical advice in the design of experiments or sample analysis. Perform a wide range of specialised techniques and procedures ¿ Daily co-ordination and planning of lab activities, monitoring output to ensure reliable, high-quality results ¿ Demonstrate and provide training in routine cell culture and molecular biological techniques and procedures. Record and interpret data and present the findings ¿ Ensure the lab meets Health and Safety and Human Tissue Authority requirements ¿ Responsible for the maintenance and repair of equipment ¿ Assist with managing the flow of work requests through the Histopathology Facility ¿ Monitor laboratory resources, placing orders and processing invoices as required
About you:
Practical experience of laboratory research work in a histopathology lab is essential together with a qualification equitable to HND/HNC, level 4/5 vocational qualifications or an equivalent level of practical experience. Proficiency in all aspects of FFPE histology, including tissue handling, tinctorial staining and immunohistochemistry is highly desirable. We are particularly interested in candidates who will be highly motivated and share our excitement for science. You should be independent while also capable of taking feedback and input from others. More generally, as a key member of the facility your role will be critical in establishing and maintaining a positive lab culture.
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/facilities-services/histopathology
Please quote reference PU37368 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.
Flow Cytometry Laboratory Technician
The Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit is an internationally renowned institution focussed on the delivery of field-changing mechanistic insights into toxicology and disease. It is located in a modern, recently refurbished building with fantastic labs in the heart of Cambridge.
We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic Flow Cytometry Laboratory Technician to provide technical support for the Flow Cytometry Facility in the Toxicology Unit.
About the role:
You will be responsible for the day-to day operation of the Flow Cytometry Facility, organise work schedules and check the performance of the flow cytometers.
Duties will include:
Responsible for day-to-day instrument calibration, sample acquisition and cell sorting.
Maintenance and running of the Flow Cytometry laboratory & safe operation of the Flow Cytometers and troubleshooting of the equipment.
Train new users in the use of instruments and help with basic analysis.
Maintain accurate records and backups of the data acquired in the facility.
Monitor lab resources, stocks and expenditure against budgets and charging research groups for work undertaken. Responsible for placing orders for the Flow Cytometry Facility.
Developing technical expertise in the design of Flow Cytometry experiments interpretation of the results and sample analysis.
Attend Unit seminars and relevant Flow Cytometry meetings with peers to identify new techniques and methods to introduce to the facility. Undertake research into new technologies to develop new or improved methods of testing in collaboration with other researchers.
About you:
Educated to degree level / a qualification equitable to HND/HNC, level 4/5 vocational qualifications or an equivalent level of practical experience, you will have practical experience of laboratory scientific research work, preferably in Flow Cytometry (analysers and cell sorters) although training can be provided.
You will need some IT skills and the ability to work with a high degree of precision. Importantly you will need to have excellent communication skills and an empathy with the life sciences work of the Toxicology Unit.
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/facilities-services/flow-cytometry
Please quote reference PU37275 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 Aitken lab is based at the MRC Toxicology Unit at the University of Cambridge, which is a world-leading centre for mechanistic biology, home to diverse research groups and cutting-edge facilities, and offers excellent opportunities for scientific career development.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Laboratory Technician to join our expanding academic group and contribute to the team's management, organisation, and scientific output.
The overall aim of our interdisciplinary research group is to investigate mechanisms of cellular damage and genome stability, and to understand their consequences for human health and disease. We use experimental and computational approaches to study genomic, cellular, and tissue-level responses to injury, and aim to identify molecular mechanisms which are dysregulated in disease, including cancer.
About the role:
You will hold one of the most important roles within the team, which will involve scientific support and lab management, as well as experimental research. In addition, you will assist the group leader in administrative duties.
You will manage day-to-day activities within the research laboratory, including:
¿ maintenance of lab reagents (antibodies, 2D/3D lines, and primary tissue) ¿ communicating with vendors, ordering of supplies, maintenance of inventories, service contracts, and repairs of equipment ¿ writing protocols and ensuring compliance with institutional and national guidelines, including HTA compliance, environmental health, and laboratory safety ¿ acting as the main liaison between the lab and various external partners (Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, industrial partners, and academic collaborators) ¿ arranging Material Transfer Agreements and shipment of samples/reagents ¿ reviewing budgets and track expenditures on a daily/weekly/monthly basis ¿ assisting with editing grants, manuscripts, proposals, and presentations
You will also contribute to the training, supervision, and provide technical assistance to PhD students, postdocs, and Research Assistants.
About you: As a recently established lab, we are particularly interested in candidates who will be highly motivated and share our excitement for science. You should be independent while also capable of taking feedback and input from others. More generally, as a key member of our new lab, your role will be critical in establishing and maintaining a positive lab culture.
Experience in tissue culture techniques, molecular biology, and cancer research is required. Experience in library preparation for NGS, CRISPR, laser capture microdissection, organoid work, microscopy and/or computational biology is highly desirable. Candidates are expected to be highly collaborative, good communicators, creative thinkers, able to find solutions to problems, to work effectively as part of a team and to contribute intellectually to other projects developed in the laboratory.
Fixed term: Funds are available for 2 years in the first instance. Funded by the Jean Shanks Foundation & Pathological Society.
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/research/research-groups/aitken-group
Please quote reference PU37121 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.
