Postdoctoral Researcher - Biology MRC Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator

Hours: Full time on site – 36 hours per week

Contract type: Fixed Term - 23 months

Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator

The Medical Research Council (MRC), as part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), has invested a total of £30M over 5 years to establish the Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator (NATA) that will support state-of-the-art interdisciplinary research to solve critical issues in nucleic acid therapeutics. NATA has state of the art chemistry and biology laboratories and capabilities located on the Harwell Research and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire alongside the MRC Harwell Mary Lyon Centre, National Mouse Genetics Facility.

The Role

We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated and enthusiastic postgraduate scientist to work on a collaborative project between NATA and University College London (UCL). The project aims to develop personalized antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy for beta-propeller protein-associated neurodegeneration (BPAN), a rare early onset disorder affecting neuronal function.

Responsibilities

• Undertake laboratory experiments as required by the project and analyse/report data (presentations, verbal and written report)
• Develop monogenetic disease modelling for the evaluation of oligonucleotides
• Identify, develop and apply different techniques as required to pursue the research objectives
• Prepare standard protocols for novel methods
• Ensure all work is carried out in accordance with the host institution’s regulations
• Update co-supervisors in a timely way on any results and prepare research updates regularly
• Keep excellent scientific records
• Contribute to the smooth running of the group, including the effective use and management of resources, training of others and taking responsibility for use of communal facilities
• Enhance your research and generic skills through a tailored development programme
• Present work internally and at national and international meetings
• Maintain a good knowledge of the relevant literature and of the wider field and actively promote this to the group
• Work effectively with collaborators
• Supervise students, visitors and trainees as necessary on specific projects 

Essential selection criteria

• Hold a relevant Ph.D/D.Phil in biology, pharmacology, toxicology or a related discipline
• Peer-reviewed research publications commensurate with career stage
• Background in working on monogenetic disease modelling, in particular, in vitro modelling with hiPSC-derived neurones
• Experience in reprogramming patient-derived cells into hiPSCs
• Experience in maintenance and differentiation of PSCs
• Experience in elucidation of disease mechanisms with standard laboratory techniques (qRT-PCR, Western blotting, confocal microscopy etc)
• High-level of creativity and independence in developing innovative analysis methods and solving complex problems
• Experience and knowledge of data analysis and interpretation
• Experience of managing biology projects and resources
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to analyse data in the literature and place own work in the context of work in the field
• Passionate about collaborative working and building relationships to reach common goals
• High level organisational skills, with the ability to manage a broad range of jobs simultaneously and under pressure
• Flexible and adaptable, able to manage changing priorities
• Capable of critical thinking
• Working and adhering to standard operating procedures and experience of process analysis and refinement
• Organised, hard-working with a strong eye for detail and able to work as part of a team
• Demonstrate ability to meet milestones