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. We are proud to launch our new Team Science initiative, marking a bold step toward a more collaborative, challenge-driven model of research.
Team Science:
The MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) is proud to launch its new Team Science initiative, marking a bold step toward a more collaborative, challenge-driven model of research.
Scientific breakthroughs are often portrayed as the work of lone geniuses, but in reality, they are usually the result of collective effort. A Team Science project is not just bigger or multi-part, it’s fundamentally different in its ethos and operational model. It’s designed to foster true collaboration across disciplines, academic institutions, industry and the public, creating something that could not be achieved alone. It’s about collective ambition, shared infrastructure and interdisciplinary innovation.
This new approach places collaboration and real-world impact at its core, integrating insights from across the LMS’ existing expertise and diverse perspectives.
Overall purpose:
A new exciting opportunity has arisen for a 3 Year Postdoctoral Research Scientist to join the Reproductive Health and Fertility: Ageing, Sex and the Environment Team science project led by J Vaquerizas, E Martinez-Perez, and P. Hajkova. Reproductive health is an important aspect of human wellbeing, yet infertility affects approximately one in six people globally. Despite its prevalence and significant emotional, societal and economic impact, the biological mechanisms underlying infertility and reproductive ageing remain poorly understood. We have put together a team of internationally-leading experts in germline biology and genome function that will use transdisciplinary experimental approaches to understand how intrinsic and extrinsic factors influence female and male fertility and reproductive ageing.
We are looking for a talented and self-motivated chromosome biology specialist to join the the Reproductive Health and Fertility: Ageing, Sex and the Environment Team science initiative. The main goal of the project will be to investigate sex-specific differences in meiotic chromosome organisation and function in different organisms (C. elegans, mouse, and human samples) using super-resolution microscopy, proteomics, and 3D genome conformation experimental approaches. The candidate will work closely with other postdocs and students in the Team who will use computational and omics approaches to elucidate the genetic and molecular causes of infertility, the impact of aging in male and female fertility, and the effect of metabolism and germline-soma crosstalk on fertility.
Main duties / key responsibilities:
Education / Qualifications / Training required (will be assessed from the application):
Essential:
Previous work experience required (will be assessed from the application and at the interview):
Desirable:
Knowledge and experience (will be assessed from the application and at the interview):
Personal skills/behaviours/qualities (will be assessed at the interview):
Please upload your 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). Please quote reference number LMS 2734.
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.