Postdoctoral Research Scientist

Profs. Jim Norman and Martin Bushell

Elucidating how coordination of mRNA-translation and membrane trafficking influences tumour initiation in the liver

Contract term: Fixed up to 6 years, subject to successful review at Year 3

About us

The CRUK Scotland Institute where the lab is based is a world leading cancer research institute, situated in the vibrant city of Glasgow in Scotland and hosting approximately 60 postdoctoral researcher scientists at any one time. It has an excellent reputation for fundamental cancer research, including world-class metabolism studies and renowned in vivo modelling of tumour growth and metastasis.

Project outline

We are recruiting 2 post-doctoral research scientists to work on an ambitious project funded for 5 years by an MRC Programme Grant. The project is focussed on investigating how regulation of the mRNA translation machinery influences initiation of hepatocellular carcinoma. We have found that that increased rates of mRNA translation and protein synthesis can, paradoxically, restrain tumour initiation and that this is, in part, due to the influence of this on membrane trafficking events such as endocytosis (Moore et al. bioRxiv 2023.08.16.553544).

The scientists engaged on this project will use in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro approaches to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms through which mRNA translation rates alter Golgi-transport, endocytosis and endocytic sorting in hepatocytes. Furthermore, this will involve determining how such altered membrane trafficking can favour establishment of tumour initiation niches via regulation of extracellular matrix deposition in the liver. 

This programme will also involve state-of-the-art cryo-EM tomography to visualise molecular details of the relationship between the mRNA translation and membrane trafficking machineries. This ultrastructural arm of the project will be conducted by a 3^rd post-doctoral scientist (also funded by the MRC Programme) located in the laboratory of Dr Stephen Carter at the Centre of Virus Research at the University of Glasgow.

To be considered for these positions you will have successfully (or nearly) completed a PhD in a relevant field with experience in molecular and/or cell biological approaches being essential. The project will involve working with murine models of liver disease and cancer. Thus, a willingness to learn and apply these in vivo approaches is essential (appropriate training will be provided), and previous experience with murine models of disease would be useful. The project will also involve ribosome profiling/foot printing and sophisticated proteomic (pulse-chase SILAC) approaches for which training will be provided and previous exposure to these methods would also be an advantage. 

Successful candidates will be strongly motivated by discovery science and to drive experimental work which increases our understanding of fundamental biological mechanisms influencing disease. The desire to work as part of a team to achieve this will essential. 

For informal enquiries, please email:

Prof. JC Norman: j.norman@crukscotlandinstitute.ac.uk 

Prof. Martin Bushell: Martin.Bushell@glasgow.ac.uk 

Dr. Stephen Carter (for enquiries related to cryo-EM): Stephen.Carter@glasgow.ac.uk

All applications must be made via the ‘Apply’ button above. 

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