Postdoctoral Research Associate in Muscle Biology and Genomics

About the role

Dr. Seaborne’s group investigates the molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning muscle biology, in the context of health and disease, with recent attention focussing on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) as the most common motor neuron disease. ALS is characterised by progressive loss of upper and lower motor neurons, muscle wasting, and premature mortality. While ALS has traditionally been studied as a neuron-centred disease, emerging evidence strongly implicates skeletal muscle as an active driver of disease pathology. This MRC-funded project will apply a novel single muscle cell (myofiber) omic platform — developed by the PI — to interrogate ALS pathogenesis at an unprecedented level of resolution. By simultaneously analysing multiple data sets (MANT-ATP, methylome, transcriptome and proteome) derived from the same individual muscle fibre, this project will determine the subtype-specific dysregulation of SkM in ALS, both in human patient biopsies and in a newly developed swine ALS model. The postholder will lead wet-lab experimental work, across biophysical (MANT-ATP) and functional genomic assays (methylome, transcriptome and proteome), generating and integrating multi-omic datasets to define how SkM contributes to ALS onset and progression. 

The position will require travel to University of Copenhagen to work closely with Dr. Julien Ochala, a leading expert in muscle biophysical assays. Travel and accommodation will be paid for. Abroad travel will be a maximum of 16 weeks across the 24 month fixed term period.   

This is a full time role (35 hours per week), role based in the UK with occasional travel to Copenhagen and you will be offered a fixed term contract starting 17 November 2025 until 16 November 2027.  This is a fully on site role.

About You

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

• PhD qualified in relevant subject area (muscle physiology, muscle biology, genomics, epigenetic etc.) *
• Prior experience with single cell omic pipelines 
• Proven ability to design, implement and analyse experiments  
• Advanced molecular biology techniques (including DNA/RNA/protein handling, PCR, qPCR, quality control assays, western blots…) 
• Proven ability to critique and interpret experiments/data and problem-solve 
• Capacity to work independently and as a multi-disciplined team, and ability to travel abroad to perform research work 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills (e.g. presentations, seminars, lab meetings…) as proven by track-record of scientific publications in leading journals and scientific dissemination 
• Demonstrate excellent organisational skills, record keeping, academic integrity, and rigor

* Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate, and the salary will increase to Grade 6. 

Desirable criteria

• Experience with skeletal muscle tissue and single muscle cell (myofiber) handling 
• Experience in handling, processing, analysing and interpreting large data sets 
• Experience in mentoring, leading and organising junior laboratory members and laboratory arrangements (e.g. MSc or PhD students) 
• Track record for scientific dissemination to key stake holders, the public and patient groups 

Advert information