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 further extension.

The successful candidate will lead an ambitious experimental genetic program to dissect centromere structure and function, using genetic and epigenetic modification in Arabidopsis. The project will involve combining classical genetics with Oxford Nanopore long-read DNA sequencing, and 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 post-holder will be supported by a full-time technician to facilitate the planned plant work and molecular biology. The successful candidate will also collaborate closely with a bioinformatics postdoctoral fellow 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 genetics and genomics, including the generation and analysis of Nanopore long-read data, and CRISPR-Cas9 approaches. 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 PD42611 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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