Postdoctoral Project Research Scientist

Location: The Francis Crick Institute, London

About us

The Francis Crick Institute is Europe’s largest biomedical research institute under one roof. Our world-class scientists and staff collaborate on vital research to help prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative conditions. 

To learn more about the Crick, click here.

About the role 

We are looking for a talented and motivated scientist to work in Dr Kate Bishop’s “Retroviral Replication Laboratory” Dr. Bishop’s group is focussed on the biology of retroviruses and host-retrovirus interactions aiming to understand how retroviruses replicate and interact with host factors and defence proteins in human disease. 

Previously virological and structural studies in the Bishop and Taylor labs at the Crick characterized the mechanism by which HIV accessory proteins target cellular proteins for degradation (Schwefel et al, Nature 2014; Schwefel Cell Host & Microbe 2015). The labs also have a wider interest in using Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins (DARPins) in basic research to study the early stages of HIV-1 infection and other cellular processes. 

This collaborative project with AstraZeneca (AZ), is funded by the Crick Idea to Innovation initiative (i2i) and based primarily in the Bishop lab. It combines aspects from both viral accessory protein and DARPin research to target specific cellular proteins for degradation. 

Please see the full job description here.

See more information about the lab 

As a Postdoctoral Project Research Scientist at the Crick, you will be working on an independent research project. 

Your specific objectives will include, but not limited to:

• Working on a multidisciplinary project aimed at targeting cellular proteins for degradation using viral accessory adaptor proteins combined with DARPin technology.
• Being responsible for developing retroviral vectors, together with cell-biological and biochemical techniques to examine DARPIin-accessory protein interactions with a variety of cellular targets.
• Working in close collaboration with Dr Ian Taylor’s laboratory at the Crick who are examining the structural biology of DARPins and viral accessory protein target recognition. 

About you

You will have: 

• PhD in the area of cell and molecular biology. Knowledge of retrovirology and restriction factors will be an asset.
• Relevant experience of virology research, including preparing and analysing lentiviral vectors.
• Relevant experience of molecular and cell biology.
• Experience of immunoblotting and microscopy. 

About Working at the Crick 

Our values  

• We are bold. We make space for creative, dynamic and imaginative ideas and approaches. We’re not afraid to do things differently. 
• We are open. We’re highly collaborative and interactive, and make sure our activities are visible to the outside world. 
• We are collegial. We show respect for one another, work cooperatively and support the wider community. 

At the Crick, we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to driving innovation and scientific discovery. If you need assistance with your application, please contact weronika.kucala@crick.ac.uk

To read more about our EDI approach, click here.   

What will you receive?  

We value our team members and are proud to offer an extensive range of benefits to support their well-being and development. You can find out more about what we offer here.

To apply for this role, please click on the 'Apply' button above.

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