Postdoctoral Training Fellow - NW Goehring Lab

Location: The Francis Crick Institute, Midland Road, London

Short summary

Work in the Goehring lab aims to understand how cell polarity is established by molecular networks that transduce symmetry-breaking cues into stable molecular asymmetries. Our work focuses on a conserved polarity network defined by the PAR (PAR-titioning defective) proteins, which underlie polarity in diverse contexts, including defining epithelial architecture and function, driving asymmetric division of stem cells, and specifying cell fate of embryonic blastomeres.

Using the C. elegans embryo as a model, our interdisciplinary team combines genetics, quantitative imaging, in vivo biophysics, and mathematical modelling to link system-level properties of the PAR network to molecular behaviours, thereby providing a multi-scale model for how PAR proteins polarize cells in response to developmental cues and ultimately how polarized patterns are read out by the downstream pathways that define a cell's functional polarity.

Key Responsibilities

We aim to recruit a talented and motivated Postdoctoral Training Fellow to join our group. Postdoctoral Training Fellows are expected to lead their own projects, generate and pursue independent research ideas, mentor junior researchers, and contribute to other projects on a collaborative basis (both in the lab and with external collaborators).

Some examples of current projects include:

• Modeling and manipulating PAR network feedback circuits
• Quantitative exploration of kinase-substrate interactions in polarity networks
• Coupling of mechanical(cytoskeletal) and biochemical networks during cell polarization
• Cell cycle control of cell polarity and fate specification pathways
• Canalization of developmental variability during embryogenesis
• Mechanisms for encoding cellular memory

This position offers substantial freedom regarding research direction.  The specific project will be developed together with the successful candidate, taking into consideration their specific interests and experience.  We welcome applications from diverse backgrounds who can bring new ideas, tools, and/or perspectives to the group.

About us

The Francis Crick Institute is a biomedical discovery institute dedicated to understanding the fundamental biology underlying health and disease. Its work is helping to understand why disease develops and to translate discoveries into new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, infections, and neurodegenerative diseases.

An independent organisation, its founding partners are the Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK, Wellcome, UCL, Imperial College London and King’s College London.

The Crick was formed in 2015, and in 2016 it moved into a new state-of-the-art building in central London which brings together 1500 scientists and support staff working collaboratively across disciplines, making it the biggest biomedical research facility under in one building in Europe.

The Francis Crick Institute will be world-class with a strong national role. Its distinctive vision for excellence includes commitments to collaboration; developing emerging talent and exporting it the rest of the UK; public engagement; and helping turn discoveries into treatments as quickly as possible to improve lives and strengthen the economy. 

• If you are interested in applying for this role, please apply via our website.
• This is a rolling advert with no end date
• All offers of employment are subject to successful security screening and continuous eligibility to work in the United Kingdom.

Advert information