View Vacancy -- MRC Postdoctoral Research Scientist LMS 2734

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:

• Plan and carry out research in accordance with the project aims
• Interact and collaborate with group members
• Provide training and advice for other group members including PhD students
• Write-up and publish results in peer-reviewed journals
• Take an active part in the academic activities of the LMS
• Attend and contribute to lab meetings, journal clubs and seminar presentations
• Present data at national and international meetings (where and when appropriate)
• Form good working relationships with other members of the group as well as internal and external collaborators

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

Essential:

• PhD (or equivalent experience) in an area related to chromosome biology or meiosis
• A first-author manuscript published or submitted from PhD work

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

Essential:

• Extensive experience with basic molecular biology experimental approaches
• Microscopy skills to investigate chromosome biology
• Evidence that the candidate can plan and carry on a research project
• Good written communication skills in English
• Experience writing scientific manuscripts

Desirable:

• Experience working with C. elegans and or mouse as model organisms
• Experience in preparing samples for omics approaches (proteomics, Turbo-ID, genome conformation)

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

Essential:

• Good knowledge of general chromosome biology
• An interest in genome organisation and function

Desirable:

• Strong publication record and exposure to scientific meetings
• Previous experience working on meiotic chromosomes

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

Essential:

• Excellent laboratory skills
• Excellent organisational skills
• Excellent attention to details
• Excellent creativity
• High-motivation and perseverance
• The post holder should be prepared to work unsociable hours as work demands from time to time
• Ability and willingness to adapt to changing timetables or work patterns as dictated by changing circumstances
• Ability to work under pressure while maintaining a high degree of accuracy
• Proven ability to prioritise, plan ahead and manage a high volume of work to meet deadlines, both prescribed and self-imposed
• Ability to use own initiative and work independently and as part of a team, as required
• Problem solving abilities
• Proven multitasking abilities
• Ability to work in a collaborative research environment
• Willingness to give and receive help with challenging problems
• Good verbal communication skills in English
• Ability to communicate its science in a clear way.
• Good interpersonal skills
• Willingness to share knowledge and transfer skills to other members of the group on a daily basis

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