Research Assistant

Research Assistant in Telomeres, DNA repair and Genome Stability

Division of Cancer and Genetics
School of Medicine
College of Biomedical and Life Sciences
  
Applications are invited for a Research Assistant position to work on telomeres, DNA repair and genome stability in the laboratory of Professor Duncan Baird based in the Division of Cancer and Genetics at Cardiff University, UK. The position is funded by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH).
 
The research in the laboratory focuses understanding the mechanistic basis of fusion between short dysfunctional telomeres, how this process drives genomic instability and facilitates clonal evolution during the progression to malignancy in human cells.
 
We are looking for a highly motivated researcher to focus on the role that key components of the classical and alternative non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathways, including POLQ, play in telomere fusion and the escape from a telomere-driven crisis. The post will utilise gene knockouts and single molecule approaches to detect and characterise telomere dysfunction. Novel approaches for characterising genome-wide, telomere dependent, mutational events using long-read high throughput sequencing technology will also be employed.
 
The Baird laboratory is part of the genome stability unit at Cardiff University, sharing laboratory space and state of the art equipment with Professor Simon Reed and Dr Greg Ngo. The successful applicant will be embedded in a vibrant and stimulating environment, working closely with geneticists, bioinformaticians, clinicians, biochemists, and neuroscientists. They will enjoy long term support and be carefully coached to develop their independent research career.
 
The successful applicant will have a relevant research experience and have a knowledge of current status of research in at least one of the fields of telomere biology, genome stability and DNA repair.

Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 45 days annual leave (incl bank holidays), local pension scheme, a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments within the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work, with many different challenges and is a proud Living Wage supporter.

For informal enquiries, please contact Professor Duncan Baird – e-mail: BairdDM@cardiff.ac.uk.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week), fixed term for 23 months, and available immediately.

Salary: £32,332 - £34,980 per annum (Grade 5). Appointments to roles at Cardiff University are usually made at bottom of scale unless in exceptional circumstances, however, for this position, the starting salary is capped at £32,332 (point 25) due to limited funding.

Closing date: Sunday, 16 June 2024

Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: Responsible research assessment - Research - Cardiff University

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

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