Postdoctoral Fellow in Pre Cancer

Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.

The Opportunity:

We have an exciting opportunity for a Postdoctoral Fellow to decipher how oncogenic mutations colonise normal human tissues. This PDF will be based in the Jones Group at the Wellcome Sanger Institute for 3 years fixed term.

About the Role:

You will work at the leading edge of experimental functional cellular genetics, exploiting a new 3D culture epithelial system (1) together with CRISPR-Cas9 technologies and live imaging to study mutant cell competition and how it is influenced by environmental factors. The goal of the project is to find interventions that can deplete mutant cells from normal tissues in order to reduce the risk of developing cancer.

About Us:

The Jones lab are world-leaders in studying how oncogenic mutants spread through normal tissues in the earliest stages of cancer development (2) (3)(4) with pioneering studies on how such mutations alter stem cell behaviour. Our approach is to work in a multidisciplinary and collaborative manner, with a team of wet-lab experimental and data scientists who work closely to generate and analyse biological datasets that range from live imaging or single cell sequencing to whole genome screens. Our combined expertise in DNA sequencing, in vivo lineage tracing, advanced 3D cell cultures and CRISPR based gene-editing puts us in the ideal position to develop novel interventions to prevent cancer.

About You

You should have a PhD in cell biology, cancer or functional genetics, be experienced in cell culture techniques and,have experience using CRISPR gene editing and ideally in running informatics packages. You should enjoy using innovative technologies to achieve your research goals and publish the results. Applicants should have a proven track record of innovation and productivity, be a very collaborative team player, have excellent organisational skills, and strong verbal and written communications skills.

When you join us as a Postdoctoral Fellow, you will benefit from a unique and well-resourced learning environment that will equip you for your future career. We are proud to produce and analyse genetic and cellular data on a scale unmatched by other institutes in Europe to advance biological and medical science.

Essential Technical skills:

• PhD in relevant subject area, or on track to be awarded your PhD within 6 months of starting the role
• Proven ability to deliver research projects
• A track record of demonstrating research excellence and expertise in your area of research
• Knowledge, skills and experience as appropriate to research area;-

- A diverse range of research experience and technical skills in experimental molecular/ cellular biology

- Extensive cell culture

Eseential Competencies and Behaviours:

• Proven ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with wide range of persons of differing level, abilities and knowledge
• Foster an inclusive culture where all can thrive and diversity is celebrated
• Team player with the ability to work with others in a collegiate and collaborative environment
• Ability to effectively communicate ideas and results and present orally to groups
• Commitment to personal development and updating of knowledge and skills
• Ability to priortise, multi-task and work independently
• Detailed orientated, strong organizational and problem-solving skills

Other information

Please apply with your CV and a Cover Letter outlining how you would meet the criteria set out above.

For informal inquiries, please contact  Phil Jones pj3@sanger.ac.uk 

Salary: PDF £38,000 - £49,156 Role profile

Closing Date: 3rd November 2024

Contract Type: 3 years core funding

Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:

We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.

We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.

Our Benefits:

We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.

Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018.  The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.

Every year the Wellcome Sanger Institute supports the visits of dozens of overseas researchers from across the globe to the Genome campus to collaborate, share insights and to undertake ground-breaking scientific research. Our reliable in-house service provides expert advice and guidance to support current and prospective staff, and visitors at various points of their journey. We are able to provide guidance through your entire journey, from initial visa application through to extensions and applications of Indefinite Leave to Remain, the service is proud to support your personal applications and those of your dependants and family members. 

For more information about our immigration service visit: https://www.sanger.ac.uk/about/careers/global-mobility-and-immigration-service/