PhD Studentship: Delineating piRNA-Guided Silencing of Transposable Elements

Overview

Professor Greg Hannon and Dr Ben Nicholson wish to recruit a student to work on the project entitled: "Delineating piRNA-guided silencing of transposable elements".

For further information about the research group, including their most recent publications, please visit their websites at: https://www.cruk.cam.ac.uk/research-groups/hannon-group and http://www.hannonlab.org/team/

This is a unique opportunity for PhD study in the world-leading Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute (CRUK CI), to start a research career in an environment committed to training outstanding cancer research scientists of the future.

The Institute's particular strengths are in genomics, computational biology and imaging; and significant research effort is currently devoted to cancers arising in the breast, pancreas, brain, and colon. Our Core Facilities provide researchers with access to state-of-the-art equipment, in-house expertise and training. Scientists at CRUK CI aim to understand the fundamental biology of cancer and translate these findings into the clinic to benefit patients.

Project details

This is an exciting opportunity for a talented student to join the interdisciplinary laboratory of Professor Greg Hannon located at the CRUK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge. The Hannon laboratory has broad interests ranging from discovery research to cancer biology. This studentship is embedded within the piRNA team, consisting of both wet- and dry-lab scientists that are studying RNA and chromatin biology. Work in the team covers a wide range of areas, including transcription, export, and processing of small non-coding RNAs, particularly piRNAs, as well as the establishment and maintenance of chromatin marks required for the silencing of transposable elements.

This project aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms that underlie the piRNA pathway mainly using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as a model. While a rough framework of the piRNA machinery has been established in recent years, the precise hierarchy of the events that result in faithful transposon silencing is not yet fully understood. In your project you will exploit tissue culture as well as in vivo models, and carry out various biochemical, proteomic, imaging, genomics (including state-of-the-art RNA and chromatin profiling methods), and computational approaches to study piRNA-guided transposon control. This project is expected to contribute to our understanding of this fascinating small RNA pathway and discover fundamental biology with impacts on the RNA and chromatin biology fields.

Preferred skills/knowledge

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic and competent student with excellent laboratory skills, a strong background in biochemistry, genetics and/or molecular biology, as well as a keen interest in transposons, small RNAs or chromatin biology. A reasonable amount of practical research experience (ideally exceeding 6 months) and an eagerness to discover fundamental biology is essential. Familiarity with imaging approaches, genomics methods or expertise with the Drosophila model would be beneficial but are not strictly required. The successful candidate is expected to have excellent communication skills and record-keeping habits, organisational and time-management skills, an inquisitive mind, and be highly motivated to drive an independent research project.

Eligibility

We welcome applications from both UK and overseas students.

Applications are invited from recent graduates or final-year undergraduates who hold or expect to gain a First/Upper Second-Class degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject from any recognised university worldwide.

How to apply

Please apply via the University Applicant Portal. For further information about the course and to access the Applicant Portal, visit: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/cvcrpdmsc You should select to commence study in Michaelmas Term 2025 (October 2025).

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