Postdoctoral Project Research Scientist – [C Swanton] Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Labora

The Francis Crick Institute is Europe’s largest biomedical research institute under one roof. Our world-class scientists and staff collaborate on vital research to help prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative conditions. The Crick is a place for collaboration, innovation and exploration across many disciplines. A space where the brightest minds can pursue big and bold ideas and discover answers to crucial scientific questions. We support them in a dynamic environment which fosters excellence with state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting‑edge facilities, and a creative and curious culture.

We are looking for a creative and enthusiastic Postdoctoral Project Research Scientist to join the C Swanton Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory. This lab studies how cancers evolve in the body to spread and become resistant to therapy and discovers new ways to treat them more effectively. The research highlights that tumours consist of diverse groups of genetically related cancer cells, some of which adapt to resist treatments like chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy. This resistance makes recurrent cancers more difficult to treat, particularly in diseases such as lung cancer.

The Project: As a PPRS you will investigate the role of cell lineage upon lung cancer initiation, both in homeostasis and in the context of challenge with non‑mutagenic carcinogens. You will seek to understand which cells within the lung are most susceptible to air pollutants and the routes they take to tumourigenesis. By identifying common pathways across different lineages, you will aspire to identify actionable targets suitable for therapeutic intervention to prevent the onset of cancer. Additionally, you will contribute to research which is committed to advancing our understanding of the biology of lung tumour evolution. You will need to have a creative approach to research with wet lab competencies, and encourage applicants with wet and dry lab skills to apply. As Postdocs may lead projects, collaborate across teams and partners, and support PhD students, it is essential you have strong communication and collaboration skills.

What you will be doing:

• To decipher evolutionary mechanisms during lung cancer initiation and progression using data from animal models.
• To employ novel informatics techniques based on evolutionary principles to the analysis of tumour subclonal evolution.
• To understand cancer biology and the relevant literature sufficiently to take own ideas forward as lead author on new projects.
• To work within the informatics team of the TRACERx and TRACERx EVO programs.
• To record all experiments and code in an accurate timely, clearly presented and reproducible manner.
• To contribute to the dissemination of scientific results by means of writing papers for publication and presentations.

About you:

• PhD – Minimum Criteria
• Previous experience with cancer genomics NGS data
• Fluent in R or Python
• Evidence of significant contribution to high impact publications
• Experience with HPC environments
• Experience of collaboration with clinicians and wet lab scientists or work within a multi-disciplinary environment
• Experience in evolutionary biology or cancer biology

About Working at the Crick:

Our values: We are bold. We make space for creative, dynamic and imaginative ideas and approaches. We’re not afraid to do things differently. We are open. We’re highly collaborative and interactive, and make sure our activities are visible to the outside world. We are collegial. We show respect for one another, work cooperatively and support the wider community.

At the Francis Crick Institute, we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to driving innovation and scientific discovery. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed, regardless of their background, identity, or personal circumstances. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all genders, ethnicities, abilities, and experiences. We are a Disability Confident employer and want to ensure that everyone can apply and be part of our recruitment processes and we’ll make reasonable adjustments if you need them - just let us know when you apply.

What will you receive?

• Visas: Applicants for this role will be eligible for sponsorship to work in the UK
• Generous Leave: 28 days of annual leave, plus three additional days over Christmas and bank holidays.
• Pension Scheme: Defined contribution pension with employer contributions of up to 16%.
• Health & Well‑being: 24/7 GP consultation services. Occupational health services and mental health support programs. Eye care vouchers and discounted healthcare plans.
• Work‑Life Balance: Back‑up care for dependents. Childcare support allowance. Annual leave purchase options. Crick Networks offering diverse groups’ support, community and inclusive social events.
• Perks: Discounted gym memberships, bike‑to‑work scheme, and shopping discounts. Subsidised on‑site restaurant and social spaces for team interaction.

Please note you must meet the essential criteria listed within the Role Profile, to have your application reviewed. We reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any given time due to the number of applications received.