MRC Postdoctoral Research Scientist - Cardiovascular Genomics and Precision Medicine LMS 2530

About us

The MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) is a biomedical research institute where scientists and clinicians collaborate to advance the understanding of biology and its application to medicine. LMS is one of three directly funded MRC research institutes and enjoy close links with our partners at Imperial College London and at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

About the role

The post-holder will be embedded in a well-established bioinformatics team and will be responsible for new projects to understand the genetic architecture of inherited heart diseases, and to evaluate genomic biomarkers for prognostic and therapeutic stratification.

Our research aims to understand the genetic basis of cardiovascular disease, particularly inherited cardiomyopathies, and to extract clinically useful information from the genome for application in patient care. Cardiomyopathies are an important health problem, as a leading cause of sudden death in young adults, and the commonest indication for heart transplantation.

Traditionally understood as monogenic disorders, a substantial proportion of cardiomyopathy cases remain genetically unexplained under this paradigm. Our recent work identifies more complex architectures, and we are studying the interactions between common variants, rare variants, and the environment (selected recent papers at https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/j.ware/publications).

About You

You will need a PhD (or equivalent experience) in Computer Science, Bioinformatics, or a Biological/Medical field including Genetics or a closely related discipline. In this post you will initially focus on analyses of dilated (DCM) cardiomyopathy, identifying common & rare variant associations with disease, and searching for genetic modifiers of penetrance and expressivity that will both identify therapeutic targets and provide biomarkers for patient stratification.  In collaboration with Professor O’Regan’s team we will integrate genomic biomarkers with cardiac imaging data, and develop machine learning models for risk prediction.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement (30 days plus 2.5 privilege days & 8 bank holidays), family friendly policies (6 months full pay maternity & adoption leave), a range of shopping/travel discounts, access to our Employee Assistant Programme Scheme, Health and Wellbeing Support and a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.  Please follow this link to find out more - Benefits

How to apply

For full details of this post and to complete an online application, please click the 'Apply' button and upload your CV, names and contacts of two scientific references along with a cover letter stating why you are applying for this role (providing evidence against the requirements of the job as per the job description and person specification). Applications without a cover letter will not be accepted. Please quote reference number LMS 2530.

*Additional allowances comprise a £1,000 lump sum Settlement Allowance plus a yearly Training Allowance of £850 in the first year, paid in monthly installments.  The Training Allowance increases to £1,300 in year two and £1,800 in the third year.

This role qualifies for endorsement by UKRI for a UK Global Talent Visa, for which the successful applicant is likely to be eligible to apply. We will also reimburse the cost of visa application (terms and conditions apply).

Closing date: 12 January 2025

Final appointment will be subject to pre-employment screening