Postdoctoral Fellow - Tissue Regeneration and Clonal Evolution (TRCE) laboratory

Full Job Description

Salary for this Role:

From £41,935, with benefits, subject to skills and experience

Job Title:

Postdoctoral Fellow - Tissue Regeneration and Clonal Evolution (TRCE) laboratory

Reports to:

Foad Rouhani [C]

Closing Date:

23.59 GMT

Job Description:

Postdoctoral Fellow – Tissue Regeneration and Clonal Evolution (TRCE) laboratory

Reporting to: Foad Rouhani, Group Leader

Contact term: This is a full-time, 4-year fixed term position on Crick terms and conditions of employment.

There are three Postdoc positions being recruited to in this new research lab, each with a separate advert. Please apply for the position you are most interested in, but indicate in your cover letter if you would like to be considered for either of the other Postdoc positions as well.

Please note there is no closing date for this role and we start screening CVs and interviewing candidates from the start of a campaign. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible if you are interested in the role.

The Research Group

We are seeking an enthusiastic and ambitious postdoctoral fellow to join the Tissue Regeneration and Clonal Evolution (TRCE) laboratory. We are a new multi-disciplinary research group with a mission to understand the factors underlying an organ’s regenerative capacity in order to design novel therapeutics to augment biological function.

We use the liver as a model organ since it has extraordinary regenerative abilities. We have identified several interesting genes in metabolic pathways which we hypothesise are important in allowing liver cells, called hepatocytes, to survive better in pathological conditions (Ng. et al, Nature, 2021). We aim to elucidate the functional consequences of mutations in these genes and unravel how these molecular perturbations influence hepatocyte clonal biology and the mechanisms of tissue regeneration. We model these recurrent human somatic driver mutations using patient derived induced pluripotent stem cells (Rouhani et al. Nature Genetics, 2022), organoids, bioengineered tissues and computational models. We are collaboratively developing and applying new technologies in single molecule spatial genomics and multiplexed in vivo gene editing. Our long-term vision is to be able to apply our findings to stimulate regeneration in other non-proliferative tissues, understand the process of organ ageing and to elucidate the molecular steps to cancer.

The Project

In this research program, some of the specific aims include but are not limited to:

• Developing computational methods to model cell fate decisions in hepatocytes which regulate tissue regeneration

• Pioneering novel technology platforms for biological validation using bioengineered liver tissue and composite co-culture systems

• Combining cell free DNA technologies and machine learning algorithms to detect liver specific somatic mutation and epigenetic signatures during liver regeneration

The postholder will be responsible for:

• Undertaking academic research and developing projects in a timely manner

• Adapting existing and developing new scientific techniques and experimental protocols

• Acquiring, analysing and reviewing scientific data to test and refine working hypotheses

• Providing guidance and training to less experienced members of the research group

• Actively contributing to preparation of scientific manuscripts and journal articles

• Working collaboratively with Crick Science Technology Platforms, bioengineers and clinical teams

Postdoctoral Fellows will lead their own projects, contribute to other projects on a collaborative basis (both in the lab and with external collaborators) and may guide PhD students in their research. The ability to work in a team is essential.

Key experience and competencies

The post holder should embody and demonstrate our core Crick values:

Bold; Open; Collegial

Essential

• PhD (or in the final stages of PhD submission) in bioinformatics, computational biology, bioengineering, regenerative medicine or related field

• Good knowledge and extensive experience in core laboratory skills such as molecular biology, in vitro mammalian cell culture and microscopy including immunohistochemistry

• Experience in bioinformatic analysis of multi-omics data

• Track record of writing papers as evidenced by publications or submitted manuscripts in referred journals

• Evidence of data presentation at scientific meetings

• Excellent time management and dedication to meet deadlines

Desirable

• Background in computational modelling of biological systems, machine learning, artificial intelligence or tissue engineering

• Experience in disease modelling using pre-clinical models such as human stem cell derived cells

• Experience in circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) or cell free DNA (cfDNA) research

About Us

At the Crick, we conduct research at the forefront of biomedical research. We combine rigour with an open and collaborative culture, and are outward-looking, reflecting our status as a partnership of six organisations aiming to pool knowledge, ideas and resources.

We have a wide research portfolio with no divisions or departments, bringing biomedical researchers together with clinicians, physical scientists and applied scientists from our pharmaceutical partners.

We aim to attract the most talented researchers and support them to tackle innovative research questions. Our science technology platforms provide our researchers with access to state-of-the-art technology and expertise.

We provide an excellent learning environment with dedicated education programmes in public engagement with science, education and personal development, and a postdoc training programme that prepares scientists for leadership roles in science.

• If you are interested in applying for this role, please apply via our website .

• All offers of employment are subject to successful security screening and continuous eligibility to work in the United Kingdom.

• If you require a visa to work in the UK we will help support your application should you be successful

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

We welcome applications from all backgrounds. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, pregnancy, age, disability, or civil partnership, marital or family status. We particularly welcome applications from people who are Minority Ethnic as they are currently underrepresented in the Crick at this level.

Diversity is essential to excellence in scientific endeavour. It increases breadth and perspective, leading to more innovation and creativity. We want the Crick to be a place where everyone feels valued and where diversity is celebrated and seen as part of the foundation for our Institute’s success.

The Crick is committed to creating equality of opportunity and promoting diversity and inclusivity. We all share in the responsibility to actively promote dignity, respect, inclusivity and equal treatment and it is our aim to ensure that these principles are reflected and implemented in all strategies, policies and practices.

Read more on our website:

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Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We welcome applications from all backgrounds. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, pregnancy, age, disability, or civil partnership, marital or family status. We particularly welcome applications from people who are Minority Ethnic as they are currently underrepresented in the Crick at this level.

Diversity is essential to excellence in scientific endeavour. It increases breadth and perspective, leading to more innovation and creativity. We want the Crick to be a place where everyone feels valued and where diversity is celebrated and seen as part of the foundation for our Institute’s success.

The Crick is committed to creating equality of opportunity and promoting diversity and inclusivity. We all share in the responsibility to actively promote dignity, respect, inclusivity and equal treatment and it is our aim to ensure that these principles are reflected and implemented in all strategies, policies and practices.

Read more on our website: