Research Associate- in Quantitive Cell Biology/Stem Cell Biology- Zatulovskiy Group (Fixed Term)

The research group of Dr. Evgeny Zatulovskiy at the University of Cambridge is seeking to recruit a passionate and skilled Research Associate with expertise in molecular/cellular biology and a keen interest in cellular decision-making mechanisms and quantitative biology. Experience in stem cell biology and/or live-cell microscopy and tracking is desirable.

The Zatulovskiy lab is an interdisciplinary team dedicated to unravelling the mysteries of animal cell size regulation and cell fate decision mechanisms (visit our website at https://www.zatulovskiylab.org). We previously discovered how cell size is tightly controlled in animal cells and demonstrated that cell size can act as an important modulator of many cellular processes in somatic cells (Zatulovskiy et al., Science 2020; Lanz et al., Mol Cell 2022). Our current aim is to further explore the mechanisms and roles of cell size regulation in development, health, and disease. We are looking for a skilled and driven researcher to spearhead a project exploring how cell size influences signaling pathways and cell fate decisions in somatic and stem cells. 

While different cell types in our body differ in size by many orders of magnitude, cells of a given type are incredibly uniform in size, suggesting that cell size is tightly controlled and crucial for tissue function. Consistent with this, significant cell size alterations are often associated with diseases and ageing. Nevertheless, surprisingly little is known about how size affects specific aspects of cell physiology, and we are only beginning to understand what molecular mechanisms regulate animal cell size. Our lab employs a systems biology approach and a diverse array of state-of-the-art quantitative techniques, including timelapse fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, SILAC proteomics, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing, and mathematical modeling. These techniques help us understand how animal cells regulate their size and how changes in cell size influence cell behaviors and fate decisions in health and disease.

We are seeking an enthusiastic postdoctoral fellow who will investigate how cell size biases cell fate decisions in particular, the decisions of stem cells to self-renew or differentiate. The project will involve the use of stem cell maintenance and differentiation protocols, along with a range of cell biology assays, biochemistry, quantitative live-cell microscopy and flow cytometry, as well as proteomics and transcriptomics. The ideal candidate will possess expertise in one or more of these techniques and demonstrate a willingness to learn new methods and concepts. Moreover, a suitable candidate will have completed a PhD and demonstrated a high research impact and extensive experience. We are looking for individuals who can think independently and serve as a driving force for their research projects.

The Zatulovskiy lab is part of the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge (https://www.bioc.cam.ac.uk/research/faculty/evgeny-zatulovskiy), and is also affiliated with the Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute.

The University of Cambridge is a signatory to the San-Francisco Declaration on Research (Assessment DORA), and in recruitment or promotion evaluations will assess research on the basis of its merits rather than the journal or venue in which it is published.  For more information: https://www.biology.cam.ac.uk/files/dora.pdf.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 31 December 2027 in the first instance.

Please include your CV, contact details of two academic references, and a brief statement describing your research experience, interests, and motivation for joining our group.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

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