Research Associate

Job description

This one-year post funded by Cancer Research UK is focusing on the analysis of the tumour immune microenvironment in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive breast cancer using spatial transcriptomics, with the aim of identifying a signature of radiation resistance in breast cancer.

The post holder will be based in the Guys Cancer Centre (Innovation Hub), School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kings College London and be part of the Molecular Breast Cancer Genetics Group led by Professor Elinor Sawyer.

Radiotherapy is routinely used in the treatment of breast cancer to reduce the risk of recurrence. However, despite radiotherapy some patients still experience local recurrences, and this is associated with worse long-term outcomes.

The postholder will focus on the analysis of the tumour microenvironment in two independent samples sets, one of DCIS and one of invasive breast cancer. All samples have been treated with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy and have long term outcome data on recurrence. Nanostring GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler (DSP) will be used to assess the whole transcriptome of distinct biological compartments within the tumour microenvironment – immune, stromal and tumour.

Tissue microarrays have already been from the DCIS samples and will need to be made from the set of invasive samples. The group of Professor Grigoriadis (also based in the Innovation Hub, Guys Cancer Centre) runs the nanoString GeoMx DSP facility and pipelines to analyse core biopsies, resections and tissue microarrays are established already established.

This is a one-year post to generate preliminary data with the hope of securing further funding to expand the analysis to other breast cancer samples sets. The post holder will be expected to:

• Select samples for analysis
• Perform spatial transcriptomics using the Nanostring GeoMx spatial transcriptomics platform
• Be involved in the analysis of the spatial transcriptomics with the support of a bioinformatician

This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract until 30 April 2025.

This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent.

Key responsibilities

• Selection of samples for analysis  
• Performing spatial transcriptomics using the Nanostring GeoMx spatial transcriptomics platform 
• Analysis of the spatial transcriptomics with the support of a bioinformatician 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria  

• PhD in Biological Sciences 
• Knowledge of cancer genetics and available resources 
• Database management 
• Experience of working with FFPE tissue specimens 
• Competent in the interpretation and technical validation of results 
• Competent in the use of standard statistical analysis packages 

Desirable criteria 

• Experience of Nanostring GeoMx spatial transcriptomics platform 

* Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Further information

Interview date is scheduled for 15th April.

This post is subject to Occupational Health clearance.

Closing date: 01 April 2024

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