Postdoctoral Training Fellow

At the Crick, we conduct research at the forefront of biomedical research.

The Research Group

Our laboratory investigates processes involved in eukaryotic DNA replication and genome maintenance using conventional biochemistry and single-molecule visualization tools. To study eukaryotic replication, we use a number of model systems including Xenopus egg extracts and a reconstituted system with purified proteins. The group currently consists of around 6 researchers including PhD students, postdocs and laboratory research scientists. For more information see the laboratory website.

The Project

We are interested in elucidating how the eukaryotic replisome navigates through the protein-rich chromatin environment. To this end, we are using single-molecule imaging techniques to visualise the outcome of replication fork collision with natural protein barriers including nucleosomes, pre-replication complexes and cohesin complexes. By direct visualisation of replisome progression through nucleosomal DNA templates in frog egg extracts, we have previously shown that efficiency of parental histone recycling is altered by free histone concentration (Gruszka et al, 2019. Sci Adv). The current project is focused on elucidating how different replisome components and histone chaperones facilitate transfer of parental histones onto newly replicated DNA.

Key Responsibilities

Essential

• PhD (including but not limited  biochemistry and biophysics) or in the final stages of PhD submission
• Strong interest in chromosome duplication
• Track record of writing papers as evidenced by publications or submitted manuscripts in referred journals
• Evidence of data presentation at scientific meetings
• Excellent organisational and communication skills
• Ability to work independently and also capable of interacting within a group

Desirable

• Experience in protein biochemistry
• Experience in working with nucleic acid processing enzymes
• Experience in single-molecule methods including TIRF microscopy

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 (MRC), Cancer Research UK, Wellcome, UCL (University College London), 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.
• The closing date for applications is 04/09/2022
• All offers of employment are subject to successful security screening and continuous eligibility to work in the United Kingdom.

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