View Vacancy -- MRC Postdoctoral Research Scientist LMS - 2714

Open Date
12/09/2025, 09:05
Close Date
30/09/2025, 23:55
MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences

The MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) is a biomedical research institute where scientists and clinicians collaborate to advance the understanding of biology and its application to medicine. LMS is one of three directly funded MRC research institutes and enjoys close links with our partners at Imperial College London and at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

 

UK Research and Innovation is a new entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, more information can be found at www.ukri.org

MRC - 4
London
£41,344 plus London allowance £5,385 per annum*
*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.
Fixed Term
Science
Full Time
3 years

Overall purpose:

Research in the DNA motors Group led by Prof. Luis Aragon focuses on the molecular mechanisms that regulate genome architecture and dynamics. Current research interests in the lab include the characterization of the evolutionary conserved Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) complexes; cohesin, condensin and Smc5/6.

Job Summary:

The post holder will develop and apply single-molecule based approaches to study the molecular mechanism of SMC complexes (Condensin, Cohesin and SMC5/6) in chromatin structure and DNA repair (see Cutts et al. EMBO, 2024; Cutts et al. Nat Comms, 2025). The proposed project will involve purification and imaging of these SMC factors with our cutting-edge C-trap (Lumicks). The successful applicant must hold a PhD in Biophysics, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology or equivalent. A strong experimental background and experience in single-molecule Biophysics are essential.

Main Responsibilities:

  • To plan and carry out research in accordance with the project aims
  • To work both independently and on collaborative projects
  • To attend project and related research group meetings
  • To interact and collaborate with group members
  • Write-up and publish of work in peer-reviewed journals
  • To take an active part in the academic activities of the LMS
  • To attend and contribute to journal clubs and seminar presentations
  • Present findings at national and international meetings
  • To form excellent working relationships with other members of the group, and internal and external collaborators
  • To assist others and co-supervise students when required

Education / Qualifications / Training required (will be assessed from application form):

Essential: 

  • PhD (or equivalent experience) in an area of Biophysics, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or any other related discipline.
  • Excellent experimental skills
  • Protein-Nucleic Acid Interactions
  • Single Molecule Imaging experience (optical or magnetic tweezers)
  • Advanced imaging analysis skills

 Desirable:

  • Protein Purification

Previous work experience required (will be assessed from the application form and at the interview):

Essential:

  • Extensive experimental/bench work experience
  • Experience in Biophysics/Biochemistry
  • Experience with Molecular Biology methods
  • Evidence that the candidate can plan and carry out a research project
  • Experience working on eukaryotic SMC complexes, particularly Smc5/6

Desirable:

  • Experience handling, purifying and labelling nucleic acids and proteins

Knowledge and experience (will be assessed from the application form and at the interview):  

Essential:

  • Excellent knowledge of DNA/protein handling and purification
  • Knowledge of nucleic acids/protein biology/biochemistry
  • Experience with microscopy/imaging methods
  • Experience with single-molecule methods
  • Experience working on eukaryotic SMC complexes
  • Strong publication record
  • Excellent written communication skills in English

Desirable:

  • Familiarity with combining experimental and computational methods
  • Excellent experimental skills

Personal skills/behaviours/qualities (will be assessed at the interview):

Essential:

  • Highly motivated
  • Cautious thinker
  • Ability and desire to work in a collaborative research environment
  • Very good interpersonal skills
  • Willingness to share knowledge and transfer skills to other members of the group on a daily basis
  • Excellent verbal communication skills in English

Desirable:

  • Evidence of ability to conduct research independently
  • Pro-actively seek innovative solutions to scientific problems
  • Willingness to work in a diverse, multi-cultural environment

Applicants should submit a CV, names and contacts of two scientific references along with a cover letter stating why you are applying for this role (providing evidence against the requirements of the job as per the job description and person specification). Applications without a cover letter will not be accepted. Please quote reference number LMS 2714.

Please note that applications may be reviewed by both LMS and Imperial staff

The MRC is a unique working environment where scientific researchers and professional support staff can actively partake in world class innovation and collaboration opportunities and their skills and knowledge through accessing a wide catalogue of  training & development, including professional registration with the Science Council.

In addition, MRC (part of UKRI) provides its community of employees access to a whole host of useful benefits, including a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement (30 days plus 2.5 privilege days & 8 bank holidays), family friendly policies (6 months full pay maternity & adoption leave),  a range of shopping/travel discounts, access to our Employee Assistant Programme Scheme, Health and Wellbeing Support and a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.  Please follow this link to find out more - Benefits

Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We warmly invite people from diverse backgrounds and heritage, including people who identify as having a disability, to apply for a role that excites them.   As "Disability Confident" employers, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. 

UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.

We will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as an essential part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check.  The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role.  UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

This opportunity is closed to applications.