Research Assistant / Research Associate (Fixed Term)

A postdoctoral position is available in the Henderson group to investigate centromere structure, function and evolution using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, funded by the ERC and UKRI. The post is available for three years in the first instance, with the possibility of extension.

The successful candidate will lead an ambitious bioinformatics program to dissect centromere structure and function, using both genetic and epigenetic data in Arabidopsis. The project will involve analysing data derived from classical genetic experiments, as well as Oxford Nanopore long-read DNA sequencing, and the results of CRISPR-mediated genome and epigenome engineering. The objective is to understand fundamental aspects of centromere identity, with cross-cutting relevance across eukaryotes. Knowledge of centromere identity will also find translation in building plant synthetic chromosomes.

The successful candidate will collaborate closely with an experimental postdoctoral fellow and a research technician to be appointed at the same time on the same project, and with other Henderson group members.

The post-holder will obtain a cutting-edge training in bioinformatic analysis of complex genome regions, including the assembly, analysis and epigenome profiling using Nanopore long-read data. The University of Cambridge also offers abundant training opportunities in computational approaches, presentation skills and networking. The University of Cambridge is also a major centre for both plant science, and genomics, providing extensive opportunities for collaboration and presentation of research findings and further career development and growth.

Where a PhD has yet to be awarded the appointment will initially be at Research Assistant level (Grade 5) and amended to Research Associate (Grade 7) upon the award of your PhD.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click on the Apply button above.

Please notice that if you have not received any news from us 1 month after the closing date you should consider that on this occasion your application has not been successful.

Please quote reference PD42577 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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