Research Associate - Purifying selection of mitochondrial DNA in the germ line (fixed term)

The University of Cambridge wishes to appoint a talented postdoctoral research associate to join the research groups of Prof Patrick Chinnery and Prof Michal Minczuk at the Department of Clinical Neurosciences and the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit.

The position is part of a joint 4-year research project with Prof Marcos Chiaratti, Sao Carlos, Brazil, and is funded by the BBSRC to advance our understanding of the biological and genetic mechanisms responsible for selecting for and against mitochondrial DNA variants in the female germ line.

The role holder will generate new mouse models transmitting mtDNA mutations using gene editing, and harness innovative single-cell techniques at different stages of mouse development to measure heteroplasmy in high throughput, linked to functional assays. You will work closely with a team of experienced bioinformaticians and statisticians to design and interpret your experimental data, and use functional genomic approaches (eg CROPseq, PerturbSeq) to experimentally validate your findings.

The team publishes high-profile publications including: Cell 2023 PMID36827974; Nature Commun 2023 PMID36823193; Nat Biomed Eng 2023 PMID36470976; Nature 2022 PMID36198798; Nature Commun 2022 PMID35468895; Nature Genetics 2021 PMID34002094; Nature Medicine 2021 PMID34426706; Science 2019 PMID31123110.

Candidates are expected to be independent, highly motivated, and keen to work collaboratively with wet-lab and computational biologists within and outside the research groups. In addition to their own research, there will be opportunities for training and career development, and supervision of junior researchers.

The team and the wider University of Cambridge are committed, in their pursuit of academic and research excellence, to a pro-active and inclusive approach to equality, which supports and encourages all under-represented groups, promotes an inclusive culture, and values diversity. Flexible working will be considered. The University particularly encourages women and candidates from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds to apply.

Lab websites: MRC MBU Research groups: https://www.mrc-mbu.cam.ac.uk/research-groups Cambridge Clinical Mitochondrial Research team: https://www-neurosciences.medschl.cam.ac.uk/mitocamb/

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 36 months (3 years) in the first instance, with the possibility of extending beyond this.

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Please ensure that you upload a covering letter and CV in the Upload section of the online application. The covering letter should outline how you match the criteria for the post and why you are applying for this role. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application.

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

Please quote reference ZE41259 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

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

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Further information
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