Research Assistant - in Cell Biology and Cancer Biology

Company description:

We are a world class research-intensive university. We deliver teaching and learning of the highest quality. We play a leading role in economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England. Attracting and retaining high-calibre people is fundamental to our continued success.

Job description:

The Role

We seek an enthusiastic and ambitious Research Assistant, based at the NU Center for Cancer to investigate the role of hypoxia in promoting therapy resistance in castration resistant prostate cancer. Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major global health concern, ranking as the second most common cancer in males and the fifth leading cause of male mortality. PCa progression is driven by continuous signalling through the androgen receptor (AR), causing gene expression changes and increased cell proliferation. Despite effective androgen deprivation therapies (ADT), the majority of patients will develop therapy resistance due to the emergence of alternatively spliced AR variants, leading to ligand-independent AR activity. Unfortunately, there are no curative treatments for this stage, highlighting the need for further research into resistance mechanisms.

Hypoxia (low oxygen levels) is another significant aspect of PCa linked to poor prognosis and therapy resistance through the activation of hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs). Emerging evidence suggests crosstalk between AR and HIF signalling in PCa therapy resistance through the regulation of specific methylases and demethylases.

The project will employ a combination of cell biology techniques alongside cutting-edge proteomics and next-generation sequencing methodologies (RIME, APEX proximity labelling, RNA-sequencing, and ChIP-sequencing) to elucidate how hypoxic regulation of specific methylases and demethylases influences the progression of prostate cancer and therapy resistance. Concurrently, collaborative studies facilitated by Professor Robson and Dr. Hepburn will employ a prostate organoid model to assess the therapeutic viability of targeting methylase and demethylase activity as a therapeutic strategy for prostate cancer.

You will be based in the laboratory of Dr. Brian Ortmann.

The position is funded by the JGW Patterson Foundation and is a fixed term contract for 1 year.

To apply for this position, we will need a copy of your CV and a covering letter outlining why you are interested in this position and what skills you have that would benefit this project.

For informal enquires contact Dr Brian Ortmann brian.ortmann@newcastle.ac.uk 

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