Postdoctoral Research Associate

(Fixed Term) 

Salary: £27,854-£36,298 pa 

Reference: PD01107 

Closing date: 07 May 2013

The genetic and epigenetic consequences of interspecific hybridisation.

The postholder will extend our previous analysis of interspecific Solanum hybrids. Extraordinary transgressive phenotypes of hybrid tomato are influenced by epigenetics and small silencing RNAs. Some of these hybrids exhibit regulatory effects that are transgressive - they are outside the range of the parents. These effects may be genetic or epigenetic and, in the examples studied until now, they were associated with small interfering RNAs that were much more abundant in the hybrid than in the parents.

The proposed work will extend this work by monitoring genome-wide patterns of transcription, genome sequence and epigenetic modification in up to four generations of progeny following hybridisation of S.lycopersicon and S. pennelli.

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a background in molecular biology with experience working with RNA and familiarity with the general field of epigenetics. Experience with next generation sequencing of small RNA including the analysis of the resultant large datasets would also be an advantage. It is essential that the candidate will have the ability to generate data using laboratory methods and to analysis the data using statistical and computational approaches.

The successful candidate should be capable of working independently on this project, whilst integrated into an interactive and supportive research group. 

Essential requirements:

PhD with a record of high quality publication Expertise in several topics including plant biology, RNA silencing, epigenetics, plant genetics, statistics, programming in R/Perl/Python Good skills in written and oral presentation of science to both specialised and general audiences. 

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 1 years in the first instance. 

Please complete form CHRIS6 (part 1 and 3 only):

http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/hr/forms/chris6/

and send to: jobs@plantsci.cam.ac.uk together with CV and covering letter. 

Please quote reference PD01107 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy. 

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