Research Associate (Fixed Term)
A postdoctoral position is available to work on a BBSRC-funded project to investigate the molecular mechanisms that regulate mRNA translation in response to stress.
The position will be held in the group of Prof. Juan Mata (https://www.bioc.cam.ac.uk/research/mata). The position will be based in the University of Cambridge, Department of Biochemistry, Tennis Court Road, Central Cambridge.
The project focuses on the mechanisms by which translation is regulated during elongation, using the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe as a model system. The project will combine proteomic, metabolomic and genomic approaches to gain a multiomic perspective of how the translatome is remodelled upon stress (see Rubio et al. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkaa1180).
Previous experience using these approaches or in any area of RNA biology will be an advantage, but is not absolutely necessary. Prior experience with yeast is not required. Although the project is largely experimental, it will also involve the computational analysis of large-scale datasets generated by the postdoc. Experience with this, or interest in learning, will also be an advantage.
The successful candidate will need to work independently and to interact with our collaborators. In addition to carrying out research, they will be expected to present research findings, contribute to writing manuscripts and supervise students in the laboratory.
The successful candidate will have a PhD or has recently submitted for a PhD.
Appointment as Research Associate is dependent on having a PhD, including those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD (in which case appointment will initially be made at Research Assistant and amended to Research Associate when the PhD is awarded).
The University of Cambridge is a signatory to the San-Francisco Declaration on Research (Assessment DORA), and in recruitment or promotion evaluations will assess research on the basis of its merits rather than the journal or venue in which it is published. Applicants should not include Journal Impact Factors or uncontextualized metrics in their applications. For more information: https://www.biology.cam.ac.uk/files/dora.pdf
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 36 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.
Informal enquiries can be sent to Professor Mata jm593@cam.ac.uk
For any questions about this vacancy or the application process please contact: personnel@bioc.cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PH38573 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 Assistant
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic person to join the Building Services Team in the Department of Biochemistry in an 'all-round' and developmental position.
This is an excellent training opportunity for a keen and committed individual. The possibility of undertaking a work-place apprenticeship and other on the job training is available and actively encouraged.
The successful applicant will join a team of four staff under the guidance of the Building Services Manager. The duties are to support the teaching and research within the Department by providing a front-line service across all building services. The successful applicant will be guided by a team who monitor plant and equipment, respond to breakdowns, conduct minor plumbing and building repairs/alterations, carry out a range of routine and planned maintenance and minor building works.
The Biochemistry Department is very busy with varied research activities, using complex plant to maintain the correct environment for researchers and equipment. The Department occupies two main buildings, both being highly serviced with a large amount of plant equipment and several laboratories. The successful candidate will be expected to familiarise themselves with the numerous plant rooms, to show engineers and contractors where equipment has failed.
The successful applicant will be able to work in a team, be computer literate, have good attention to detail, understand the need for robust record keeping and adherence to health and safety guidelines. Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential as you will be dealing with many different types of personnel both within the University and with outside contractors.
Familiarity with any building trades - electrical, mechanical, carpentry or decoration - would be desirable, but not essential as full training will be provided. The most important requisite is a positive, problem-solving and 'can-do' attitude, and willingness to learn. Candidates should be motivated and be able to work alone or as part of a team.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Informal enquiries about this vacancy should be directed to the Building Services Manager, Roger Biamonti, at: rb686@cam.ac.uk
Questions regarding the application process should be directed to: personnel@bioc.cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PH38325 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 for a Research Associate position available in the laboratory of Prof. Luca Pellegrini in the Department of Biochemistry of the University of Cambridge, UK.
Work in the laboratory is focused on elucidating the structural basis for eukaryotic DNA replication (Rzechorzek et al, NAR, 2020; Evrin et al, EMBOJ, 2018; Villa et al, Mol Cell, 2016; Simon et al, Nat Comm, 2016; Simon et al, Nature, 2014) and associated DNA repair processes (Lerner et al, EMBOJ, 2020; Brouwer et al, EMBOJ, 2018).
The aim of the project is to elucidate key molecular mechanisms of DNA synthesis and repair by the human replisome, the dynamic multi-protein ensemble responsible for duplicating chromosomal DNA before cell division. To achieve this goal, the successful candidate will use a multi-disciplinary approach that includes preparative biochemistry of multi-protein complexes, protein engineering and state-of-the-art biophysical and structural techniques.
The project will advance our understanding of how our cells copy their DNA and thus maintain genomic stability across cellular generations. In addition to its biological importance, such information will have great medical relevance, as disease such as cancer and premature aging are promoted by errors in our genome caused by defective replication.
Applicants will hold or be about to receive a PhD in a relevant subject. They must have a track record in conducting internationally competitive research, including peer reviewed publications as first author. The ideal candidate will combine an ability to work independently and to fit in well in a team. Above all, she/he will be enthusiastic about pursuing fundamental research and be highly motivated to succeed professionally.
Expert knowledge of biochemical methods for production of recombinant multi-protein assemblies and their quantitative biophysical analysis is highly preferred. The position would also be suitable for a cell biologist with expertise of CRISPR technologies and interested in applying her/his skills to Structural Biology. No prior knowledge of cryoEM methods is required as training will be available.
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 31 May 2026 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 sent to Professor Pellegrini: lp212@cam.ac.uk
For any questions about this vacancy or the application process please contact: personnel@bioc.cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PH38297 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.
HR Administrator
The Department of Biochemistry, a flourishing academic community that enjoys a world-class reputation for both teaching and research, is embedded in the School of the Biological Sciences and is one of the largest Departments in the University of Cambridge.
The Department is offering an exciting opportunity for a talented administrator to join its HR office and play a key role in providing administrative support within the Department of Biochemistry. The successful candidate will respond to HR related questions and queries, supporting a range of tasks such as staff recruitment, database management, payroll administration and provide support with the day to day running of the Biochemistry Human Resources function.
The successful applicant will have excellent communication and organisational skills, a flexible approach to work, good IT skills, and with experience of using Microsoft Office. They will be self-motivated, reliable, have previous administrative experience and be used to dealing with confidential information, working with multiple processes and working to tight regulations. A good general knowledge surrounding the concepts and principles of HR administration is highly desirable, along with the desire to learn and develop further skills in this area.
Candidates should be educated to at least A-level standard/NVQ level 3 or equivalent level of practical experience.
This role will provide excellent exposure and experience for an administrator seeking broader development, or an entry point for those seeking a start to a HR career touching on all aspects of the employment cycle.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Informal enquiries about this vacancy are welcome and should be directed to the Departmental Administrator & General Manager, Dr Katherine Wallington, at da@bioc.cam.ac.uk
Questions regarding the application process should be directed to: personnel@bioc.cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PH38238 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.
Teaching Office Administrator
The Department of Biochemistry, a large and flourishing academic community that enjoys a world-class reputation for both teaching and research, is embedded in the School of the Biological Sciences. An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated, enthusiastic and positive individual to join our Teaching Office team. You will make an important contribution to the effective administration and delivery of undergraduate education in the Department of Biochemistry and to the smooth running of our Teaching Office.
Based in a busy and friendly professional services team, reporting to the Teaching Co-ordinator, the successful candidate will provide efficient secretarial and general administrative support to the Department in the area of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. In a supportive work environment, they will help ensure that all aspects of teaching administration run smoothly throughout the year, and help facilitate the calm and efficient operation of the teaching office team.
With great organisational common sense, and excellent written and verbal communication skills, the successful candidate will be a point of contact for students, academics, and professional service staff colleagues. They will have a real interest in educational support services, and preferably some existing knowledge of higher education teaching and administration.
Sound IT skills including knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, databases, webpages and email packages are essential. Knowledge of, or willingness to learn Moodle (Virtual Learning Environment), Panopto (online video recording and hosting system) and other University computing systems such as CamSIS (the University's student records system) are desirable.
Temporary cover: This post is fixed-term for 1 years or the return of the post holder, whichever is the earlier.
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.
Informal enquiries about this vacancy should be directed to the Departmental Administrator & General Manager, Dr Katherine Wallington, at da@bioc.cam.ac.uk
Questions regarding the application process should be directed to: personnel@bioc.cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PH38070 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: Mapping the overlapping fitness landscapes of a superfamily of promiscuous enzymes by droplet screening and AI (Fixed Term)
A postdoctoral position is available for 14 months, in the first instance, from the 1st November 2023 to work with Professor Florian Hollfelder at the Department of Biochemistry: https://hollfelder.bioc.cam.ac.uk/
The objective of this project is to map 'fitness landscapes' for promiscuous enzymes (able to catalyse multiple, chemically distinct reactions), by analysis of experimental data (ultrahigh-throughput screening of libraries >10e6, analysed by deep sequencing) and interpretation using classical physical-organic/structural/mechanistic approaches. Adaptive walks in sequence space from one promiscuous activity to another will thus be described in unprecedented detail and interpreted using machine learning/AI approaches, to ultimately provide insight for future protein engineering.
Applicants should thus have a first (or upper second) class degree in chemistry, biochemistry or a related, relevant subject, followed by a PhD. The project involves molecular and chemical biology techniques. Specific skills in mechanistic enzymology/enzyme kinetics, assay development, DNA library generation, structural biology, organic synthesis, high-throughput screening and microfluidic engineering are advantages, but will also be acquired during the postdoctoral training period.
Applications should contain a description of research interests (e.g. as part of the cover letter), a detailed CV (with exam marks and all relevant practical experience) and a list of publications. Please also include the names and email addresses of at least two referees, who are familiar with your research work.
The University of Cambridge is a signatory to the San-Francisco Declaration on Research (Assessment DORA), and in recruitment or promotion evaluations will assess research on the basis of its merits rather than the journal or venue in which it is published. Applicants should not include Journal Impact Factors or uncontextualized metrics in their applications. For more information: https://www.biology.cam.ac.uk/files/dora.pdf
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 14 months in the first instance, with a possibility of an extension.
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 sent to Professor Hollfelder fh111@cam.ac.uk
For any questions about this vacancy or the application process please contact: personnel@bioc.cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PH38021 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)
Applications are invited for a Research Assistant position in the Department of Biochemistry of the University of Cambridge, UK. The successful applicant will work to support the research activities in the laboratory of Ben Luisi.
The position would suit an ambitious and talented recent graduate in Biochemistry or Molecular Biology, who is keen to gain research experience in an international academic environment. Although the main focus of the post is to provide research support to more experienced researchers, there will be opportunities to participate in research projects. We are a highly interactive group, very keen on teaching to students from undergraduate to postgraduate level. In addition to a strong aptitude for scientific research, the ideal candidate will possess excellent communication skills and will fit in well in a team.
An MPhil degree in Biochemistry or Molecular Biology and previous research experience would be highly desirable.
Applicants should submit a CV citing relevant experience, a cover letter explaining why they are suitable for the position and contact information for at least two referees.
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 14 October 2026 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 sent to Professor Luisi: bfl20@cam.ac.uk
For any questions about this vacancy or the application process please contact: personnel@bioc.cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PH38022 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.
Independent Research Fellowships
The Department of Biochemistry provides enthusiastic support for early career scientists who wish to establish their own research programmes and labs through career development fellowships. Synergy with our current research groups is important to us. We are particularly interested in recruiting in the following research areas:
Computational biology/AI DNA and chromatin biology RNA biology Molecular microbiology Plant biochemistry and bioenergy, Synthetic biology/Bioengineering
The Department and School of Biological Sciences offer a dynamic environment where our research programmes benefit from state-of-the-art facilities.
If you are interested in obtaining the Department's support for application to granting agencies, you must discuss your potential application with current members of the Department. If you are unsure who to contact, please email our Research Fellowships Team at fellows@bioc.cam.ac.uk, who will identify a faculty member for you to discuss your potential application.
To make an application, please email the Research Fellowships Team with the following:
A CV including a list of publications (highlighting the three publications that you consider to be most significant)
Two references sent directly to fellows@bioc.cam.ac.uk
A two-page outline of your intended research programme
A statement of why you would like to work in the Department
A brief outline of the facilities you would need during a Fellowship
Successful candidates will be offered comprehensive support for the preparation of their Fellowship application.
Please email our Research Fellowships Team at fellows@bioc.cam.ac.uk for any enquiries.
Please quote reference PH37913 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)
The Maori lab, based in the Department of Biochemistry of Cambridge University, is inviting applications for a Research Associate. The position holder will join our research programme, which centres around a new paradigm in RNA biology: secreted extra-organismal RNA-binding proteins (RBPs).
Secreted extra-organismal RBPs have been recently discovered in honeybees and Listeria monocytogenes. In both instances, the RBP stabilises RNA outside the organism it originated from to interact with- and affect another organism. Given their recent discovery, it is unknown how widespread and diverse the roles of extra-organismal RBPs are.
Our recent studies identified an extra-organismal RBP in the honeybee jelly secretion, which is somewhat analogous to mammalian milk (Maori et al., Mol Cell, 2019; Maori et al., Cell Reports, 2019). Prompt by this observation, we explored the presence of such RBPs in breast milk. We isolated two secreted milk proteins with robust yet unknown RNA-binding capacity, playing essential metabolic roles. Both factors are conserved across mammals, active in the intestine, and interact with multiple receptors and components of the extracellular matrix. Therefore, our key goals are to define how and why these novel secreted RBPs bind RNA in human milk and the gastrointestinal tract. To achieve these goals, the successful candidate will employ cutting-edge protein and RNA biochemistry techniques, imaging and high-throughput sequencing to assess the impact of RNA binding on protein/RNA stability and function. They will also test whether these secreted RBPs are endocytosed in their ribonucleoprotein forms and deliver their maternal RNA partners into cells.
Uncovering the biology of these novel extra-organismal RPBs would provide new knowledge about the bioactivity of breast milk and the healthy digestive process, and what could go wrong during disease. Hence, this research will ultimately contribute towards the development of transformative new research and technology avenues to sustain health and control disease.
Applicants will hold or be about to receive a PhD in a relevant subject. They will have a track record in driving competitive research, including peer reviewed publications as first author. The ideal candidate will be passionate about interdisciplinary research and be highly motivated to succeed professionally.
Strong experience with protein biochemistry, molecular RNA analyses and cell culture is highly desirable. A solid background in cell biology, protein activity assays and NGS analyses would be advantageous, but not mandatory.
The University of Cambridge is a signatory to the San-Francisco Declaration on Research (Assessment DORA), and in recruitment or promotion evaluations will assess research on the basis of its merits rather than the journal or venue in which it is published. Applicants should not include Journal Impact Factors or uncontextualized metrics in their applications. For more information: https://www.biology.cam.ac.uk/files/dora.pdf
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.
Informal enquiries can be sent to Dr Maori: em514@cam.ac.uk
For any questions about this vacancy or the application process please contact: personnel@bioc.cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PH37827 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 for a Post-Doctoral Research Associate position to be based in the University of Cambridge, Department of Biochemistry, central Cambridge, working in the laboratory of Prof. Jussi Taipale. The position will be offered for an initial two years, with the potential to extend.
The laboratory consists of experimental biologists and computer scientists who focus on the study of transcriptional control of cell growth, using functional genomics and systems biology, and mouse genetic models. Current lines of work include high-throughput determination of binding sites and binding specificities of human transcription factors, and using this information to identify regulatory elements that control cell growth during normal development and in cancer (see, for example Hallikas et al., Cell 124:47-59, 2006; Sur et al., Science 338:1360-1363, 2012; Jolma et al., Cell 152:327-339, 2013; Jolma et al., Nature 527:384-388, 2015; Yin et al., Science 356:eaaj2239, 2017; Zhu et al., Nature 562:76-81, 2018; Yan et al., Nature 591:147-151, 2021; Sahu et al., Nature Genetics 54:283¿294, 2022). The lab is also very well equipped with its own sequencers, 10x Genomics controller and robots for high-throughput work.
The work profile is a combination of wet-lab and dry-lab tasks. The successful applicant will pursue an independent research project in the general area of gene expression. Candidates with experience or interest in machine learning, artificial intelligence and programming are encouraged to apply.
Applicants should have a PhD in computational biology, molecular biology, genetics, or biochemistry.
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.
Informal enquiries can be sent to Dr Connor Rogerson:cjr78@cam.ac.uk
For any questions about this vacancy or the application process please contact: personnel@bioc.cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PH37279 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 for a Research Associate position available in the laboratory of Prof. Luca Pellegrini in the Department of Biochemistry of the University of Cambridge, UK.
Work in the laboratory is focused on elucidating the structural basis for eukaryotic DNA replication (Rzechorzek et al, NAR, 2020; Evrin et al, EMBOJ, 2018; Villa et al, Mol Cell, 2016; Simon et al, Nat Comm, 2016; Simon et al, Nature, 2014) and associated DNA repair processes (Lerner et al, EMBOJ, 2020; Brouwer et al, EMBOJ, 2018).
The aim of the project is to elucidate key molecular mechanisms of DNA synthesis and repair by the human replisome, the dynamic multi-protein ensemble responsible for duplicating chromosomal DNA before cell division. To achieve this goal, the successful candidate will use a multi-disciplinary approach that includes preparative biochemistry of multi-protein complexes, protein engineering and state-of-the-art biophysical and structural techniques.
The project will advance our understanding of how our cells copy their DNA and thus maintain genomic stability across cellular generations. In addition to its biological importance, such information will have great medical relevance, as disease such as cancer and premature aging are promoted by errors in our genome caused by defective replication.
Applicants will hold or be about to receive a PhD in a relevant subject. They must have a track record in conducting internationally competitive research, including peer reviewed publications as first author. The ideal candidate will combine an ability to work independently and to fit in well in a team. Above all, she/he will be enthusiastic about pursuing fundamental research and be highly motivated to succeed professionally.
Expert knowledge of biochemical methods for production of recombinant multi-protein assemblies and their quantitative biophysical analysis is highly preferred. The position would also be suitable for a cell biologist with expertise of CRISPR technologies and interested in applying her/his skills to Structural Biology. No prior knowledge of cryoEM methods is required as training will be available.
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 31 May 2026 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 sent to Professor Pellegrini: lp212@cam.ac.uk
For any questions about this vacancy or the application process please contact: personnel@bioc.cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PH37138 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: Harnessing marine microbes to promote a circular bioeconomy (Fixed Term)
A postdoctoral position is available for 12 months in the first instance, with a possibility of an extension, from 1 July 2023 to work with Florian Hollfelder at the Department of Biochemistry, Cambridge University (https://hollfelder.bioc.cam.ac.uk/). The project is part of the Horizon Europe project BlueRemediomics (http://blueremediomics.eu/) and involves collaborations with various EU and UK groups on harnessing marine microbiomes and marine culture collections for novel biocatalysts that may play a role in future sustainable processes with higher resource and energy efficiency.
We will search databases (in collaboration with EMBL-EBI's MGnify team as well with the Tara Oceans Initiative) and physical libraries for new catalysts for application in recycling, bioremediation and green chemistry. Candidate enzymes are mechanistically investigated, structurally characterised and improved by directed evolution. Ultrahigh-throughput screening in microfluidic droplets will be used to explore enzyme libraries experimentally.
Applicants should thus have a first (or upper second) class degree in chemistry, biochemistry or a related, relevant subject, followed by a PhD. Familiarity with molecular and chemical biology techniques and specific skills in assay development, enzyme kinetics, DNA library generation, structural biology, organic synthesis, high-throughput screening, mechanistic enzymology, database searching and microfluidic engineering are advantages. An interest in interdisciplinary collaboration between wet lab and in silico work is crucial.
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.
Informal enquiries can be sent to Professor Florian Hollfelder: fh111@bioc.cam.ac.uk
For any questions about this vacancy or the application process please contact: personnel@bioc.cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PH37119 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.
