Practical Class Technician (Part Time)
The Department of Genetics is seeking a proactive Practical Class Technician to join our friendly and welcoming professional services team on a part-time, permanent basis. This key position supports our undergraduate teaching activities and offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to a world-class teaching and research environment while benefiting from the University’s many support and development opportunities.
The successful candidate will provide essential technical support for practical teaching, including preparing and setting up laboratory equipment and experiments for undergraduate classes. They will assist students during sessions, maintain cultures, prepare and analyse samples, and contribute to developing practical experiments. Responsibilities also include supporting the recruitment of supplementary demonstrators.
Another key aspect of the role is managing laboratory supplies and equipment. The Technician will monitor stock levels, order consumables, and purchase minor equipment within budget, ensuring resources are available for both research and teaching. This includes liaising with staff and suppliers, resolving issues, and maintaining records through the University’s financial system (CUFS).
Health and safety are integral to the role. The Technician will conduct routine safety checks, arrange repairs, and carry out safety inductions in the absence of the Department Safety Officer. Additional responsibilities include maintaining the chemical inventory and overseeing biological waste disposal, including autoclave operation. The ideal candidate will have laboratory support experience, preferably in biological sciences, with knowledge of lab procedures and health and safety regulations. Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently are essential. Good communication skills are also required, as the role involves working closely with students, academic staff, and research groups.
The Department of Genetics is part of the School of Biological Sciences and hosts 22 research groups and over 100 staff. It is a vibrant and collaborative environment with strong links to leading research institutes such as the Gurdon Institute and the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
Staff benefits include competitive rates of pay with automatic service-related progression and annual cost of living increases; Generous annual leave provision; Family friendly policies including generous carer leave (maternity, paternity, shared parental leave, adoption leave); An auto-enrolment pension scheme, with a generous employer contribution; Exclusive employee discounts via our CamBens scheme, and access to free Wellbeing activities and resources.
The Department actively encourages and supports personal development and our staff have access to a wide range of courses and training provided by the University of Cambridge Learning and Development team.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
For informal enquiries, please contact Amie Baker, Chief Building and Facilities Manager, at aew47@cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PC47580 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 to the Head of Department (Temporary Cover)
The Department of Genetics is seeking to appoint a proactive, reliable and well-organised individual to provide comprehensive administrative support to our Head of Department, as well as providing wider coordination of other departmental activities, including outreach, events and communications.
This is a key position within our friendly Professional Services Staff team and has responsibility for managing all aspects of the Head of Department's diary including scheduling appointments, assembling paperwork, communicating with contacts and briefing the HoD of daily commitments and workload.
The role holder will coordinate events being carried out by the Department (e.g. Annual Departmental Research Day, biennial Special Lecture, academic and research based retreat, and Christmas and Summer parties). They will also be responsible for managing expenses claims and monitoring budgets, therefore accuracy and attention to detail is required with a good standard of Maths and written English.
The successful applicant will act as Secretary for our Academic Staff, Infrastructure, Microscopy and Events Committees; preparing agendas and minutes and ensuring the business of each Committee is carried out appropriately in liaison with the relevant Chair. They will also be a member of the Department's Silver Management Team, with line-management responsibility for our Department Receptionist and Events and Seminars Administrator.
The position would suit someone who is self-motivated, with excellent communication skills, and is confident liaising with a wide variety of staff across the Department, as well as external contacts including: press, other national and international scientific institutions, eminent scientists, funders and other University departments and offices. Experience of updating websites, SharePoint and social media would also be beneficial.
The position is offered on a fixed-term basis, providing a period of maternity cover for up to 12 months, or the return of the role holder (whichever is sooner).
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 and we are happy to consider part-time/flexible working arrangements (ideally 4 days minimum).
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 the role please contact Casey Mein, Departmental Administrator: genda@gen.cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PC47335 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 Coordinator/PA (Part Time, Fixed Term)
The Department of Genetics is seeking a highly organised and proactive Research Coordinator/PA, on a part time (60%) basis, to support the Research Group of Professor Richard Durbin. This is a varied and rewarding role that combines research project coordination with personal assistant duties, offering the opportunity to contribute to internationally recognised research in computational and mathematical genetics.
The Durbin Group is involved in a wide range of projects, including genetic variation, evolutionary and population genetics in humans and cichlid fishes, and the development of algorithms and software for high-throughput sequencing and genome assembly. The group is currently funded by major grants from the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Wellcome Trust.
Suitable candidates should be able to demonstrate previous experience in administrative or project coordination roles, they should have strong organisational skills and be confident at multi-tasking and managing deadlines. Strong communication skills and the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of stakeholders is essential. Proficiency is Microsoft Office is also required and familiarity with University systems and processes is desirable.
Key responsibilities
- Coordinate and oversee the administration of multiple research projects
- Monitor project milestones, deadlines, deliverables, and budgets
- Liaise with stakeholders and collaborators in the UK and internationally (e.g. Copenhagen)
- Organise field trips, workshops, training sessions, and conferences
- Manage travel arrangements, expenses, and event logistics
- Provide PA support to Professor Durbin, including diary management, meeting coordination, and travel planning
- Maintain accurate records of group absences and HR documentation
- Support recruitment and onboarding of new group members and visitors
- Assist with manuscript submissions, literature searches, and research governance applications
- Maintain and update the group website and publicise project activities
- Prepare reports and assist with grant-related communications
What we offer
The Department of Genetics offers a dynamic and supportive working environment that champions equity, diversity and inclusion. We host a number of staff events throughout the year and encourage participation in our varied committees. This role sits within our welcoming support staff team and offers opportunities for training and development to support your career in the University. Staff have access to a range of benefits including a generous annual leave allowance, contributory pension scheme and flexible working arrangements (where this can be accommodated).
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 1 March 2027 in the first instance.
To find out more about the work of the Durbin Group please visit https://www.gen.cam.ac.uk/research-groups/research-groups/durbin
We welcome applications from individuals who wish to be considered for flexible working arrangements.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Informal enquiries about the role are welcomed and should be directed to Sam Laister, sl725@cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PC47304 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.
Department Safety and Environmental Sustainability Coordinator
The Department of Genetics is inviting applications for the position of Safety and Environmental Sustainability Coordinator. This is an important role with responsibility for health and safety and environmental sustainability across the Department.
The role holder will be the first point of contact for all safety related matters, overseeing the dissemination of health and safety information, providing technical safety support, advice and training to all staff and students in the Department, developing and updating documentation, guidance and training materials associated with Health and Safety in the Department. As it is critical that our health and safety information is delivered effectively, we are looking for someone with a keen eye for detail and excellent communication skills. You should be confident interacting with a wide range of professional services staff, researchers, academics, students and contractors to ensure that health and safety standards and procedures are followed at all times.
The successful applicant will need to demonstrate experience of managing health and safety in a scientific laboratory setting, including practical experience of managing radiation, liquid nitrogen, lasers and chemicals and the safe disposal of biological waste. An excellent understanding of health and safety regulations and the factual and theoretical principles of health and safety management are required. The roleholder also acts as the Department's Disability Liaison Officer and supports accessibility to our department and facilities.
Another key aspect of the role is to lead on environmental issues within the Department, developing and coordinating the Department's environmental policy and action plan, and implementing change via the Department's Sustainability Committee. An interest in these areas would therefore be beneficial.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be addressed to Sara Singlehurst, Principal Assistant sjs85@cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PC47001 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)
Applications are invited for a 6-month Research Assistant/Research Associate position to join an international team in the Department of Genetics in central Cambridge. The project is led by Dr Ben Steventon and is aimed towards understanding how multi-tissue interactions time the development of the early central nervous system. The role will involve performing tissue ablation experiments in the early chick embryo, following by gene expression studies and live imaging.
We are looking for a highly motivated and well-organised person, with a first degree in biological or biomedical sciences and experience in molecular biology.
The project will involve learning and applying cutting-edge live imaging techniques including the quantification of tissue flow and tracking dynamic cell behaviours. Experience in the ex ovo culture and manipulation of the chick embryo is required, along with experience in the generation and analysis of single cell RNAseq datasets. It is also essential that the candidate can demonstrate a high level of organisational ability with experience in data collection and database management. The work will be embedded in a dynamic research group that utilizes a range of biological systems to tackle fundamental problems of early embryonic development.
Specific experience required:
- Experimental embryology of the chick embryo: ES and New Culture, tissue ablation, tissue grafting
- Imaging: Confocal microscopy and spinning disk microscopy
- Single cell RNAseq analysis
A PhD in Developmental Biology 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. 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.
For informal enquiries about the role please contact Dr Ben Stevention bjs57@cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PC46833 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 Grade 7 Post-Doctoral Research Associate position to join an international team in the Department of Genetics in central Cambridge. The project is led by Dr Ben Steventon and is aimed towards understanding the interplay of ECM, multi-tissue morphogenesis and gene expression during the development of the vertebral column. The project will involve experiments tracking tissue level morphometric changes, cell movements in 3D and ECM remodelling.
We are looking for a highly motivated and well-organised person, with a PhD in Developmental Biology.
Specific experience required:
- Working with early development of zebrafish or chick embryos
- Advanced imaging technologies including confocal and light-sheet microscopy
- Experience with a broad range of light imaging modalities, including but not limited to: confocal, light-sheet and spinning disk microscopy
- Methods to quantify tissue shape changes during development
- Experience researching the role of ECM in the control of tissue morphogenesis
For further details on our research, please visit steventonlab.wordpress.com
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 18 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.
For informal enquiries about the role please contact Dr Ben Steventon bjs57@cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PC46826 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)
The Department of Genetics is seeking to appoint a short-term postdoctoral Research Assistant/Associate to start as soon as possible to complete work with Professor Richard Durbin on studies into the genomics of population structure and speciation in the Malawi cichlid genus Labeotropheus.
This post will build on past work in which over 1000 samples of Labeotropheus from multiple species/populations have been collected in Malawi under a joint agreement with the Government of Malawi, with field phenotype data, genomic sequencing data obtained in the UK, and micro-CT scanning data being also collected. Initial analysis suggests recurrent selection of divergent types in multiple locations. The aim of this role is to complete this analysis and prepare a manuscript for submission for publication. The position is available up until the end of 2025.
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. If a PhD is not held, the appointment will be made at Research Assistant level.
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 31 December 2025 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 the role please contact Professor Richard Durbin rd109@cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PC46745 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.
