Research Associate

Postdoctoral Research Associate x 2 in Synthetic Biology and Genome Engineering

Location/campus: South Kensington and White City Campus - On site only

About the role

We are looking for two Postdoctoral Researchers to help build synthetic chromosomes in the synthetic biology research group of Professor Tom Ellis in the Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London.

What you would be doing

These two Wellcome Trust-funded roles will work on engineering S. cerevisiae yeast strains to tailor their cells for the capture, editing and transfer of large (250 kb+) sections of synthetic DNA and genomic DNA into artificial chromosomes for use in mammalian tissue culture. Both roles are part of an ambitious collaborative multi-group, multi-year project intended to enable large-scale design and construction of synthetic chromosomes for mammalian cell lines, by tackling key technological barriers in synthetic genomics.

You will engineer yeast strains to accept, stably maintain and modify large DNA regions from the human genome. You will modify yeast, via engineering control of their cell cycle, to enable efficient delivery from the yeast cells into the nuclei of cells in tissue culture by cell-to-cell fusion methods. Synergistic work tackling other key barriers in synthetic genomics will be done in parallel by postdocs in Oxford, Cambridge and Manchester that will be close collaborators during the project.

You will get to work on this high-profile, ground-breaking project and make use state of the art techniques and technologies (e.g. chromosome synthesis, nanopore sequencing, CRISPR) in a collaborative working environment within and across institutions.

You will be expected to work within a collaborative team project across 5 institutions, to co-run technical workshops, to share data, tools and methods with relevant stakeholders and engage with those working on ethics and governance projects.

What we are looking for

You should have a PhD in eukaryotic synthetic biology (or equivalent) for appointment at Research Associate level. Applicants close to completion of their PhDs will also be considered where experience is directly relevant.

You will be experienced with synthetic biology, yeast cell biology, DNA assembly and genome engineering. Being familiar with YACs, HACs and BACs, the yeast cell cycle, mammalian tissue culture, CRISPR-based methods and recombinase-based genome engineering would all be advantageous. Full details can be found in the Job Description.

What we can offer you

• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution that is regarded as the number one hub for synthetic biology research in Europe.
• A position in a group highly regarded for its research, for its positive nature and for the excellent outcomes of its alumni, many of whom are now group leaders of their own or founders of start-up companies.
• Access to Imperial’s sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression.
• Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 39 days off a year and generous pension schemes)

Further information

There are 2 posts available to work full-time on a fixed-term contract for 36 months in the first instance, with any extension subject to research funding.

If you require any further details about the role, please contact: Tom Ellis – t.ellis@imperial.ac.uk

Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 20 July 2025

Available documents

Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

• download: Employee Benefits Booklet.pdf
• download: ENG03549 Research Associate - Job Description.pdf

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you encounter any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us at support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk. We're here to help.

About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.  

Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world’s toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.  

As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you’ll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.  

This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you’ll join us at Imperial College London. 

Our Culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.

Our values are at the root of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation. 

Closing date: Sunday 20th July

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