Research Assistant (with PhD Studentship)

Research Assistant (with PhD Studentship) (Fixed Term): Genetic interrogation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system 

We are looking for a talented scientist to join the laboratory led by Dr. Richard Timms based in the Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease (CITIID). 

The successful candidate will be a highly motivated, enthusiastic and industrious individual who is capable of thinking and working independently. We would be particularly interested in candidates who are keen to pursue postgraduate research, as there will be an opportunity to undertake a PhD. 

Funded by the European Research Council, this project will use the latest genetic technologies to explore the mechanisms through which E3 ubiquitin ligases target their substrates. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is the major route through which the cell achieves selective protein degradation, and hence the system plays a critical role in essentially all cellular processes. UPS components are a largely untapped source of potential drug targets, but an enhanced understanding of how E3 ubiquitin ligases select their substrates is required to guide the development of novel therapeutics. 

The successful candidate will undertake a three-year research project using a combination of expression screening techniques and loss-of-function CRISPR screening approaches with the goal of:

(1) identifying substrates of E3 ubiquitin ligases, (2) delineating the specific molecular features ("degrons") that dictate substrate recognition, and (3) exploring how these processes are corrupted in the context of disease. 

This role would be ideal for someone passionate about genetics who is eager to exploit the latest technologies in areas such as CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing, synthetic biology, pooled lentiviral expression screens and next-generation sequencing. At the end of the post, you will have gained a broad range of key experimental and transferable skills, which will provide an effective springboard towards a successful research career in the biological sciences. 

This post is coterminous with the post holder carrying out a PhD; any offer of employment will be conditional on the candidate being offered the opportunity to undertake a PhD. It is the successful candidate's responsibility to meet the required admission criteria for their higher course of study and apply in time for a 1st October 2026 course start date.

Recent relevant publications include:

Ramage DE. Timms RT (2025) LRRC58 defines an E3 ubiquitin ligase complex sensitive to cysteine abundance. bioRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.23.678073

Timms RT et al. (2023) Defining E3 ligase-substrate relationships through multiplex CRISPR screening. Nature Cell Biology, 25: 1535-1545.

Timms RT et al. (2019) A glycine-specific N-degron pathway mediates the quality control of protein N-myristoylation. Science, 365 (6448): eaaw4912.

Koren I, Timms RT et al. (2018) The Eukaryotic Proteome Is Shaped by E3 Ubiquitin Ligases Targeting C-Terminal Degrons. Cell, 173 (7): 1622-1635.

For more information, visit https://www.timmslab.com For further details or informal enquiries, please contact Richard Timms via email (rtt20@cam.ac.uk).

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.

Please include details of your referees, including email address and phone number, one of which must be your most recent line manager.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

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