Postdoctoral Research Associate in determining mechanisms of centromere seeding and inheritance

About the role

The post holder will be an integral member of the Jansen research group carrying out collaborative research on one (or a few) defined projects. These will focus on understanding the role of chromatin and DNA sequence in the assembly of functioning of human centromeres. Specifically, the post holder will participate in a project focussing on the histone variant CENP-A at centromeres and discovering the mechanisms of assembly and stable transmission of centromeric chromatin. In addition to running the project, the post holder will provide guidance to less experienced members of the research group, including postdocs, research assistants, technicians, and PhD and project students.

This full-time fixed-term post is funded by Wellcome for up to 4 years in the first instance.

The actual starting salary offered will be based on qualifications and relevant skills acquired and will also be determined by the funding available.

What We Offer

Your happiness and wellbeing at work matters to us, so we offer a range of family friendly and financial benefits including:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days annual leave
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Cycle loan scheme
• Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs
• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans

The University also runs an enormous amount of social groups and sports clubs for those looking for more than just a great place to work.

About you

We are seeking an enthusiastic, driven postdoctoral fellow who is keen to develop a career in research and discovery. You should hold, or be close to completion, of a relevant PhD/DPhil, together with relevant experience.

You will have a background in broad areas of molecular and cell biology with experience in hypothesis-driven, mechanistic research. Centromeres are a paradigm in chromatin-based inheritance and offer a unique opportunity to discover principles of epigenetic memory. As part of the Jansen lab, you will be integrated into a team working on CENP-A chromatin assembly and inheritance. Projects we can explore include discovering how the histone variant CENP-A assembles selectively at centromeres, how neocentromeres form, defining the role of alpha-satellite DNA, and determining the cell cycle control mechanisms that ensure the stable transmission of centromeric chromatin.

You will be based at the Department of Biochemistry, a world-class research facility featuring the latest techniques in NGS, imaging, and proteomics. We are an open science, collaborative, and inclusive team fostering career development. Projects will involve opportunities to further develop your skills in chromatin dynamics, high-end live cell imaging, and the latest genomics technologies, including nanopore long-read sequencing.

Application Process

You will be required to upload a supporting statement, setting out how you meet the selection criteria, curriculum vitae and the names and contact details of two referees as part of your online  application.

Only applications received before 12 noon on Tuesday 13th August 2024 can be considered with interviews for shortlisted candidates to be held as possible thereafter.

Committed to equality and valuing diversity

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