Research Associate (Fixed Term)
Applications are invited for a 3-year 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 how alterations in tissue geometry and tissue extrinsic mechanical forces can alter early tissue morphogenesis during embryonic development. The project will be co-led by the Steventon group, and that of Dr Thierry Savin in the Department of Engineering. It would be well suited to someone from a Bioengineering or experimental Biophysics background who has an interest to apply their skills in the context of a mechanobiology project. There will be ample opportunity to learn from and become immersed in a research group that utilizes a range of biological systems to tackle fundamental problems of early embryo development.
We are looking for a highly motivated and well-organized person, with a PhD in Bioengineering, Biophysics or a related discipline, with experience in either microfluidic methods, hydrogels for 2D/3D cell culture, or micromechanics of biological tissues. Excellent organizational skills and the desire to work as part of an inter-disciplinary team is essential.
Specific experience required:
- Development and application of microfluidics
- Engineered hydrogels for tissue culture
- Mechanobiology
- Cell culture and generation of embryonic organoids (gastruloids)
- Confocal and live cell imaging
- Microscopy development
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
For further details on our research, please visit https://steventonlab.wordpress.com/
For informal enquiries about the role please contact Dr Ben Steventon, bjs57@cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PC41397 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 Genetics is looking to recruit a new HR Administrator to join our friendly and vibrant Professional Services team.
This is a key role that helps to support the delivery of a comprehensive HR service across the Department. The role holder will be responsible for supporting staff recruitment, induction, payroll, visitor administration, staff review and development, and the implementation of equality, diversity and wellbeing policies. They will also respond to a wide range of general HR queries and advise on HR policies and procedures, therefore strong communication skills are essential.
The position is available on a full-time/permanent basis and reports to the HR Coordinator for the Department. Suitable applicants should be able demonstrate that they are well-organised, proactive, reliable and self-motivated, using initiative to manage competing priorities, ensuring key deadlines are met. Confidence and professionalism when communicating with staff is essential, an aptitude for IT would also be beneficial (learning new HR processes and systems quickly). Applicants should be qualified to 'A' level standard or equivalent with relevant HR administration experience or transferable skills.
As a Department we pride ourselves on our close community of staff and students. We promote an inclusive and supportive work culture and encourage all staff groups to get involved in our varied committees, sharing ideas and innovation to improve the way we work. We have an active calendar of social activities and events and greatly welcome new and positive initiatives that inspire well-being, champion diversity and support professional development. Our staff are essential in helping us to achieve these goals and ensure that our Department is a great place to be.
The University offers a range of staff benefits which include:
- Competitive rates of pay with automatic service-related pay progression and annual cost of living increases;
- An annual leave allowance of 36 days paid leave (including bank holidays)
- Generous maternity, adoption and shared parental leave entitlement and other family friendly schemes (e.g. workplace nurseries and salary exchange schemes for childcare);
- An auto-enrolment pension scheme, with a generous employer contribution;
- Travel benefits and retail discounts at over 2,000 local and national stores;
- Schemes to support with relocation / the provision of accommodation
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 at genda@gen.cam.ac.uk
The closing date for applications is midnight on Tuesday 7th May.
Please quote reference PC41211 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.
Postgraduate Administrator (Part Time)
The Department of Genetics is looking to recruit a new Postgraduate Administrator to join our friendly and vibrant Professional Services team.
This is a key role within the Department, responsible for providing comprehensive administrative support for the postgraduate education programme. This involves working closely with the Director of Postgraduate Education and acting as the first point of contact for enquiries from postgraduate applicants, current students and academic staff regarding postgraduate matters. The Postgraduate Administrator regularly interacts with students and their supervisors to ensure the smooth and efficient running of the programmes therefore strong communication skills are essential.
The successful applicant will be responsible for the full lifecycle of postgraduate education, from initial advice and administration relating to applications for postgraduate courses, through to student registration, induction, progress monitoring and assessment. They will need to be confident at managing a high volume of confidential information and able to apply tact and discretion at all times in their communication.
The Department of Genetics has around 80 postgraduate students at any one time across its MPhil and PhD programmes. Suitable applicants should be able demonstrate that they are well-organised, proactive, reliable and self-motivated, using initiative to manage competing priorities, ensuring key deadlines are met. Confidence and professionalism when communicating with staff and students is essential, with an aptitude for IT also beneficial (learning new processes and systems quickly). Applicants should be qualified to 'A' level standard or equivalent with relevant university administration experience or transferable skills.
As a Department we pride ourselves on our close community of staff and students where we promote an inclusive and supportive work culture. We encourage all staff groups to get involved in our varied committees and to share ideas and innovation to improve the way we work. We have an active calendar of social activities and events and greatly welcome new and positive initiatives that inspire well-being, champion diversity, and support professional development. Our staff are essential in helping us to achieve these goals and ensure our Department is a great place to be.
The University offers a range of staff benefits which include:
- Competitive rates of pay with automatic service-related pay progression and annual cost of living increases;
- An annual leave allowance of 36 days paid leave including bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).
- Generous maternity, adoption and shared parental leave entitlement and other family friendly schemes (e.g. workplace nurseries and salary exchange schemes for childcare);
- An auto-enrolment pension scheme, with a generous employer contribution;
- Travel benefits and retail discounts at over 2,000 local and national stores;
- Schemes to support with relocation / the provision of accommodation
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 at genda@gen.cam.ac.uk
The closing date for applications is midnight on Tuesday 7th May.
Please quote reference PC41224 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 Developmental Genetics (Fixed Term)
Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the group of Dr Erik Clark at the Department of Genetics in central Cambridge.
We are looking for a talented and enthusiastic individual to join a small interdisciplinary team investigating the robust patterning of the early Drosophila embryo. Duties will include developing and applying cutting-edge imaging approaches, Drosophila genetics, and general lab management.
The primary focus of the role is to lead imaging experiments in the lab, using techniques such as smFISH, HCR, immunofluorescence, MS2, and llamatags and acquiring data on fluorescence confocal miscroscopes. Significant imaging experience is therefore essential with multiplexed and single molecule imaging experience preferred. Quantitative image analysis experience would also be beneficial.
The successful applicant will be conducting this research using early Drosophila embryos, therefore a thorough understanding of early Drosophila development and proficiency in Drosophila genetics and Drosophila husbandry is essential. A track record of research into gene regulation in the Drosophila blastoderm is particularly desirable with previous experience of non-Drosophila arthropods also very welcome.
Suitable applicants should hold a PhD in a relevant scientific discipline and be able to demonstrate a thorough working knowledge of general lab management principles. They should have experience of supervising junior lab members and students and be confident at delivering training in wet-lab techniques.
Strong communication skills and the ability to discuss research with different audiences is essential. This includes presenting at conferences, contributing to publications, supporting teaching activities and helping to lead group discussions.
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 4 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 about the role are welcome and should be directed to Dr Erik Clark (ec491@cam.ac.uk).
The role is available for an immediate start and we will be looking to interview shortly after the closing date.
Please quote reference PC41022 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 an experienced Research Assistant, to start as soon as possible on a fixed term basis until 30 September 2024. The role holder will be working in the group of Professor Richard Durbin in the Department of Genetics on studies into genetic diversity and species boundaries.
The successful applicant will be supporting research on Malawi cichlid and Yponomeuta moth projects by carrying out DNA and RNA extractions and making libraries for Illumina sequencing. They will also work on the generation of genome assemblies for representative individuals using long read sequencing, therefore experience of extracting good quality high molecular weight DNA is essential. Additionally, the role holder will support the development of protocols for new species, adding to established protocols for nanopore sequencing. There will also be the opportunity to work on a second project, supporting the development of a robust protocol for aquatic environmental DNA sample analysis, and transfer of this to collaborators in Malawi.
The responsibilities of the role include:
- High-throughput DNA and RNA extractions and library preparation for Illumina sequencing
- High molecular weight DNA extraction, library preparation and sequencing using ONT devices
- Metabarcoding work: reference library creation for Malawi non-cichlid fish species, eDNA extraction, eDNA library preparation
- Data and sample management for genetics work
- Assist with teaching/workshops to share protocols with collaborators
- Contribute to the provision of datasets, preparation of reports and outreach material
- Design and execute laboratory experiments in a reliable and timely manner under the supervision of senior research staff
- Provide detailed descriptions of experiments and support with the analysis of data and suggesting next steps
- Identify technical issues as they occur and troubleshoot
This position can be offered on a full-time basis, Monday to Friday, or for 80% of full time (4 days per week).
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 or Bettina Fischer bef22@cam.ac.uk
The closing date for applications is midnight on Wednesday 13th March and we are looking to interview as quickly as possible after this date.
Please quote reference PC40719 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.
Cleaner (Part Time)
The Department of Genetics is looking to recruit a new member of staff to join our friendly team of Cleaners on a permanent basis.
This is a part-time role for up to 15 hours per week carrying out general cleaning duties in our research labs and offices, and shared communal areas and facilities. Ideally, we are looking for someone who is able to commit to 3 hours each day, working early mornings Monday to Friday. We are happy to discuss flexibility to working times and hours to suit the right applicant.
The Department is located on the Downing Site in central Cambridge close to many shops and cafés and within easy walking distance of many bus services and Cambridge train station. We are a relatively small Department but cover a wide range of genetic research and teaching activities. The Department itself is split across 4 floors with lift access and extensive refurbishment within the last few years. It combines state-of-the-art research facilities with modern offices and communal areas. We have a Tearoom offering free tea and coffee facilities and an attractive Library with IT and Wellbeing resources that staff are welcome to use.
As a Department we pride ourselves on our close community of staff and students. This includes our valued team of Cleaners who play a vital role in maintaining the Department to a high standard. The team is well supported and line managed by our Chief Building and Facilities Manager, and Principal Assistant, who are always on-hand to help with any day-to-day cleaning issues, ensuring the correct tools are supplied for each job.
No formal qualifications are required for this role and full training will be provided, including health and safety training for all cleaning products and equipment. Previous experience of laboratory and/or office cleaning would be beneficial, but not essential. We are looking to fill this role as soon as possible. Suitable applicants will be invited for a tour of the Department and to meet with other members of the team.
Please note, due to the nature of this work a reasonable standard of physical fitness is required. It is also essential that you are able to follow written safety instructions for all cleaning products and equipment.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
If you would like to find out more about the role, please contact Amie Baker by email: aew47@cam.ac.uk or telephone: 01223 762050.
The University is an accredited Real Living Wage (RLW) employer and ensures that all employees are paid at least the RLW rate. This is currently £12 per hour. Further information about the Real Living Wage can be found here https://www.livingwage.org.uk/what-real-living-wage
Please quote reference PC40405 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 [Temporary Cover]
Applications are invited for a self-motivated, reliable Laboratory Technician to work in Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith's research group in the Department of Genetics. The Ferguson-Smith group studies the mechanisms of epigenetic regulation of developmental processes and genome function in mammals. The current focus of the research group is the role of genomic imprinting in the regulation of postnatal nutritional resource control via the milk, and the extent to which imprinted gene products within breastmilk are transferred to the offspring and modulate growth, development, metabolism and life-long health. This position offers an excellent career development opportunity for those wishing to transition into lab-based research and gain experience in molecular biology and mouse models.
This position will be primarily responsible for the application of mammalian molecular genetics techniques to support projects and mouse model work being carried out in the research group. The successful candidate will be experienced in standard molecular biology and genotyping techniques, including sample handling, nucleic acid extraction, PCR, electrophoresis and qPCR.
Experience in mouse models and colony management is desirable. Holding a Home Office mouse personal licence (PIL) would be an advantage.
Temporary cover: This post is fixed-term for 12 months or the return of the role holder, whichever is the earlier.
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 the role are welcome and should be directed to Dr Geula Hanin ghl35@cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PC40074 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.
