Research Scientist

We are seeking a highly motivated research scientist to join a world-leading laboratory (see Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2019), working on the sensing and signalling of oxygen levels in cells and the role of these pathways in cancer. The work has broad relevance in biology and direct relevance to many or most human diseases, including heart and lung disease, stroke and cancer. The laboratory is ‘problem-based’ and deploys a very wide range of technologies to address these problems. In this role, you will join the laboratories of Sir Peter Ratcliffe, Tammie Bishop and Tom Keeley at the Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine.

Although the laboratory has been successful in elucidating mechanisms underlying transcriptional responses to low oxygen (the HIF hydroxylase system), Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology, 2019), it is clear that other systems must exist to organise responses that operate at different oxygen concentrations and over different time scales.

The ongoing work focuses on rapid responses to oxygen availability at the heart of cellular and organismal physiology and on their relevance to the pathogenesis of tumours associated with dysregulation of hypoxia signalling. Of particular interest are oxygen chemo-sensitive cells in the carotid body. These cells manifest electrophysiological excitability in response to hypoxia and are the site of a rare but important type of cancer, termed paraganglioma. Mutations in genes encoding components of the hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) pathway and in specific Krebs cycle enzymes (succinate dehydrogenase subunits) are associated with paraganglioma that manifest a pseudo-hypoxic pattern of gene expression.

Building on work that implicates the HIF system in both the embryonic/fetal development of oxygen chemo-sensitive cells and in the development of paraganglioma, the laboratory aims to define:

• the nature of growth signals transduced by activated HIF in chemo-sensitive cells
• whether these signals can be harnessed to develop a cell culture system for the detailed study of mechanisms of oxygen chemo-sensitivity
• whether and how oxygen chemosensitivity itself promotes the growth of paraganglioma

As Research Scientist, you will have the opportunity to work across this area of research and, subject to scientific progress, to develop a personally defined line of work within the program. You will carry out research in general molecular cell biology (including tissue culture, analysis of gene expression, responses to hypoxia, fluorescence microscopy) and be responsible for the creation of cell lines (including genetic engineering of cells and primary cell culture).

To be successful in this role, you will hold a biomedical degree with research experience in a relevant area. You will have the ability to manage a research project and associated activities, and have excellent communication skills, including the ability to write text for publication, present data at conferences, and represent the research group at meetings. Experience in: cell culture, maintenance and genetic engineering of cells; developmental biology; fluorescence microscopy would be considered desirable for this role.

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online and you will be required to upload a supporting statement and CV as part of your application. Your supporting statement must explain how you meet each of the selection criteria.

This position is offered full time on a fixed term contract for 3 years in the first instance and is funded by the Ludwig.

Only applications received before 12 midday on Monday 2 September 2024 will be considered. 

Please quote 172919 on all correspondence.

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