Senior Scientific Officer - Dr Nadia Nasreddin and Prof Owen Sansom

Project title: WNT-driven cell competition: a target for novel preventative strategies against colorectal adenoma formation

Salary Range: from £28,344 to £45,357 (Depending on qualifications and experience)

Contract term: 24 months 

About us 

The CRUK Scotland Institute is a cancer research institute, situated in Glasgow with approximately 250 researchers split across 30 research groups consisting of PIs, postdoctoral scientists, PhD students and scientific officers. It is one of Europe's leading cancer research centres, supporting cutting-edge work into the molecular mechanisms of cancer development. As well as core support from Cancer Research UK, the Institute also receives an additional third of its total income from external grants and industry collaborations. It has an excellent reputation for fundamental cancer research, including world-class metabolism studies and renowned in vivo modelling of tumour growth and metastasis. Its research ethos is about excellence, honesty, openness, accountability, and integrity. 

Project outline 

We currently have a position available for a Senior Scientific Officer for a Biology to Prevention CRUK funded project under the supervision of Dr Nadia Nasreddin, within Prof Owen Sansom’s laboratory. 

Recent studies have shown that APC mutations in LGR5-positive intestinal stem cells (ISCs) give rise to super-competitor cells. Whereby, APC-mutant ISCs hold an endogenous fitness advantage provided by the intrinsic and constitutive WNT activation. This is coupled with suppression of neighbouring wild-type cells’ stemness and promotion of their differentiation through the secretion of the WNT negative regulator NOTUM. Together, they allow APC-mutant cells to “fix” and outcompete wild-type cells. Notably, interference with the cellular dynamics between normal ISCs and APC-mutant stem cells, by boosting the fitness of the ISCs using Lithium, has been shown to have a chemo-preventative effect on the development of colorectal adenomas. 

In our project, we want to assess whether we can successfully boost the fitness of normal ISCs to interfere with the cellular dynamics between normal and Apc-mutant stem cells and thereby have a chemo-preventative effect on colorectal adenomas by activating WNT signalling. We want to specifically assess three intervention strategies targeting different components of the pathway. You will primarily be responsible for collecting and analysing data from in vivo experiments and conducting experiments in vitro using organotypic cultures. 

You will possess a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in cell biology or similar and have some relevant work experience. We expect you to have a good understanding in basic methods for molecular biology. Experience in work with mouse and organoid models would be advantageous but not essential. 

You should be able to work both independently and in close collaboration with the scientists associated with the project. You should be highly motivated and have good communication, project management and organisational skills. A flexible approach to your working pattern is necessary as there may be some weekend work required as part of this role. 

For informal enquiries please email Dr Nadia Nasreddin (n.nasreddin@crukscotlandinstitue.ac.uk) 

All applications must be made via our website via the 'Apply' button above.

Closing Date: 15^th August 2025, but we may contact promising candidates on a rolling basis, so please apply as soon as you are ready.

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