Postdoctoral Project Research Scientist – Applied Biotechnology…

Postdoctoral Project Research Scientist – Applied Biotechnology Laboratory

Reports to: Samuel Rodriques, Group Leader

Contact term: This is a full-time, fixed term (24 months) position on Crick terms and conditions of employment.

Summary

This position is for a postdoctoral project research scientist in the Applied Biotechnology Laboratory led by Sam Rodriques. The postholder will seek to apply directed evolution and high-throughput screening to identify new mechanisms for transporting large molecules across the blood-brain-barrier. Suitable candidates should have prior experience with directed evolution, next-generation sequencing, viral vectors, nanoparticles, and protein purification. Quantitative reasoning skills are essential.

Project summary

The Applied Biotechnology Laboratory works at the interface between academic bioengineering and biotechnology entrepreneurship. Our goal is to develop biotechnologies that address major unmet needs in biology and medicine and to put them into every laboratory or every clinic in the world.

We have developed a new strategy for identifying mechanisms that can be used to transport large molecules including viruses, nanoparticles, and proteins, across the blood-brain barrier in human beings. We believe that these strategies will be superior both to the strategies that are currently employed by labs and companies seeking to evolve viral variants that can cross the BBB, and to the strategies that have been employed in the past using carrier proteins such as transferrin.

We are seeking a postdoctoral project research scientist to develop this strategy, identify corresponding mechanisms, and apply those mechanisms to transport a variety of molecules, including viruses, nanoparticles, and antibodies, across the blood-brain barrier. Additional details of the proposed project can be shared with competitive applicants during the interview process.

Key responsibilities

These include but are not limited to:

• Conceiving of and conducting experiments and analyzing results related to the program of research, including preparing libraries and screening them for variants that can cross the blood-brain barrier.
• Maintaining high-quality lab notes and maintaining the central lab inventory.
• Writing grant applications and giving pitches to philanthropists to support the program of research. The postdoctoral project research scientist will not ordinarily need to obtain money for their own research projects, but will be expected to participate in raising money for future research projects.
• Forming and pursuing collaborations with other academic labs.
• Reporting on a regular basis to the leader of the Applied Biotechnology Laboratory
• Presenting results at lab meetings and at international conferences.
• Writing up results and publishing papers in major, internationally recognized journals.
• Assisting in training graduate students and other members of the laboratory.

In addition, as necessary or desired, the postholder will have the opportunity to consult for external companies on topics related to their research, and to pitch their ideas to investors and to participate in the technology transfer process.

Key experience and competencies 

The post holder should embody and demonstrate our core Crick values: bold, imaginative, open, dynamic and collegial, in addition to the following:

Essential:

Qualifications, experience and competencies:

• PhD in a field of engineering, molecular biology or similar
• Experience in fields such as molecular biology (cloning, recombinant protein production), protein engineering, viral vectors, nanomaterials, and next-generation sequencing.
• Strong quantitative reasoning skills, for example including mathematical and programming ability.
• Motivation to perform cutting-edge engineering with a focus on translation
• A demonstrated ability to generate and pursue independent research ideas.
• Strong skills in organising and thorough record-keeping
• Strong collaborative ability and teamwork experience
• Strong communication skills and presenting ability

Desired:

• A track record of publishing high-impact papers.

Find out what benefits the Crick has to offer:

For more information on our great pay and benefits package please click here: https://www.crick.ac.uk/careers-and-study/life-at-the-crick/pay-and-benefits

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We welcome applications from all backgrounds. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, pregnancy, age, disability, or civil partnership, marital or family status. We particularly welcome applications from people who are Minority Ethnic as they are currently underrepresented in the Crick at this level.

Diversity is essential to excellence in scientific endeavour. It increases breadth and perspective, leading to more innovation and creativity. We want the Crick to be a place where everyone feels valued and where diversity is celebrated and seen as part of the foundation for our Institute’s success.

The Crick is committed to creating equality of opportunity and promoting diversity and inclusivity. We all share in the responsibility to actively promote dignity, respect, inclusivity and equal treatment and it is our aim to ensure that these principles are reflected and implemented in all strategies, policies and practices.

Read more on our website: https://www.crick.ac.uk/careers-and-study/life-at-the-crick/equality-diversity-and-inclusion