View Vacancy -- MRC Postdoctoral Research Scientist LMS - 766

The London Institute of Medical Sciences is an Institute funded by the MRC and is linked with the Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College. Based on the Hammersmith Hospital Campus in West London (W12), the LMS has first class facilities and provides investigators from clinical and basic science backgrounds with the opportunity to pursue innovative, multidisciplinary research within the established clinical base of Imperial College. For more information, visit www.lms.mrc.ac.uk.

Overall purpose: Study how epigenetics affects evolution through affecting the rate of DNA damage.

Job Summary: A 3-year postdoctoral position is available in the newly renamed MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences to work within the Transgenerational Epigenetics and Evolution laboratory headed by Dr Peter Sarkies. The major interest of the TEE lab is how epigenetic mechanisms, particularly those that are involved in silencing transposable elements, connect to evolutionary processes, both within species and in generating diversity between species. To study these questions we use a variety of approaches including comparative genomics, C. elegans genetics and molecular biology and mammalian cell culture.

A recent focus of the lab has been to test whether epigenetic changes at endogenous genes can drive evolutionary change. Our recent work has indicated that in C. elegans, epigenetic changes involving small RNAs (“epimutations”) that arise spontaneously can under rare circumstances be maintained for hundreds of generations, thus potentially contributing to diversity within a population. The successful candidate will lead a project to analyse whether variation in chromatin organisation, in particular histone modifications and nucleosome positioning, can similarly arise spontaneously and persist stably within populations. We aim to understand how genomic features such as nearby transposable elements and exogenous stimuli such as DNA damage affect these processes. Depending on background and interest, the candidate will address this question using either computational or wet-lab approaches, using either C. elegans or mammalian cells. Experience in performing and/or analysing ChIP-seq experiments would be an advantage.  

Main Responsibilities:

• Original research contributions to the core program of the Transgenerational Epigenetics and Evolution research group

• Active participation in training of the staff and students by providing advice and information to PhD and MSc students in the group.

• Possible direct supervision of PhD or MSc students (max. one at a time).

The appointee will:

1)    Conduct research as part of the group’s core program.

2)    Develop and conduct their own research topic within the group’s core program.

3)    Analyse, manage, communicate and publish data.

4)    Take an active part in the academic activities of the group including group meetings, group journal clubs, training and organisational aspects.

5)    Take an active part in the academic activities of the LMS, including journal clubs and seminar presentations.

Education / Qualifications / Training required:

Essential:

PhD or equivalent in molecular biology or a related discipline

Previous work experience required:

Essential:

• Molecular biology, computational biology or other life sciences research
• Authorship on at least one peer-reviewed paper

Desirable:

• Strong publication record, including first-author papers

Knowledge and experience:

Essential:

• Basic molecular biology techniques; either C. elegans culture or mammalian cell culture or
• Sound knowledge and experience of computational biology

Desirable:

• Experience in performing and/or analysing ChIP-seq experiments

Personal skills/behaviours/qualities:

Essential:

• High level of motivation and drive
• Evidence of ability to organise and conduct complex research projects
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Ability to work effectively with researchers from different fields
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• Willingness to share knowledge and skills with other members of the group
• Willingness to share knowledge and skills with other members of the group on a daily basis

Desirable:

• Ability to work independently
• Ability to communicate effectively with people outside research environment, in particular company reps

*Salary quoted is inclusive of London weighting. Additional allowances comprise a £1,000 lump sum Settlement Allowance plus a yearly Training Allowance of £850 in the first year, paid in monthly instalments. The Training Allowance increases to £1,300 in year two, and £1,800 in the third year.

From April 2018, MRC will be part of UK Research and Innovation. UK Research and Innovation will bring together the seven Research Councils, Innovate UK and a new organisation, Research England. The vision for the new organisation is to be the best research and innovation organisation in the world. From 1 April 2018 your employer will be UK Research and Innovation. More information can be found online http://www.ukri.org/