Research Fellow (2 posts)

Applications are invited for two highly motivated research fellows to join the Prostate Cancer Research and Radiation Biology team led by Dr’s Melissa LaBonte-Wilson, Simon McDade and Prof Suneil Jain. The Research Fellows will play a crucial role in advancing our understanding of the complex mechanisms underlying the potential therapeutic efficacies novel combinations targeting epigenetics (class-I HDAC inhibitors) and cell death inhibitors (IAP inhibitors) with radiation and androgen-signalling inhibitors (ASIs) in high-risk prostate cancers.

These positions involve the design, execution, and analysis of pre-clinical studies aimed at improving treatment outcomes through novel combination therapies.

The post-holders will focus on overcoming therapeutic resistance and enhancing the immune response within the immunosuppressive, macrophage-enriched microenvironment of metastatic prostate cancer. The studies will be coupled with combination of functional genomics analyses (e.g., ChIP-seq, RNA-seq, ATAC-seq) of 2D, 3D and in vivo modelling and validation.

The two posts are funded for 7 and 18 months respectively for by Prostate Cancer UK and will be directly supervised by Dr Simon McDade and Dr Melissa LaBonte-Wilson within the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research.

About the person:

The successful candidate must have, and your application should clearly demonstrate that you meet the following criteria:

• Hold or be about to obtain (submitted) a PhD in Cancer Biology, cell/molecular biology or a closely related discipline.
• Must hold a UK Personal Animal Licence (PIL).
• Significant, relevant experience in a range of cell/radiation biology techniques which must include:
  • in vitro tissue culture
  • protein biology (e.g. Western blotting, Flow cytometry, proteomics)
  • whole cell assays (survival, proliferation, viability)
  • in vivo cancer modelling (hold a UK PIL)
  • molecular biology techniques, which may include immunofluorescence, si/shRNA, real-time PCR, luciferase and/or other reporter-based assays.
• Experience working with mouse and human ex vivo models.
• Experience in working with subcutaneous xenograft tumour models and IP techniques.

To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information.

Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.

What we offer:

Beyond a competitive salary, the University offers an attractive benefits package including a holiday entitlement of up to 8.4 weeks a year, pension schemes and development opportunities. We support staff wellbeing with flexible working options, work-life balance initiatives and support for physical and mental health. You can find more detail on all of this and more at https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/HumanResources/pay-reward-and-benefits/

Queen's University is committed to promoting equality of opportunity to all. We subscribe to Equality Charter Marks such as the Diversity Charter Mark NI and Athena Swan and have established staff networks such as iRise (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network) and PRISM (LGBTQ+) which help us progress equality.

For further information on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, please visit www.qub.ac.uk/diversity.

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