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- Tasks: Join a dynamic team to analyse extrachromosomal DNA and contribute to groundbreaking cancer research.
- Company: UCL, a leading global university with a top-tier Biomedical Faculty.
- Benefits: 41 days holiday, pension scheme, gym access, and employee support services.
- Other info: Inclusive environment encouraging diverse applicants and offering excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in cancer research while collaborating with top scientists and clinicians.
- Qualifications: PhD in relevant field, experience in genomics data analysis, and programming skills in C++, Python, or R.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
About us
UCL is one of the UK\’s premier research and teaching Universities (www.ucl.ac.uk) and has one of the largest Biomedical Faculties in Europe. UCL is both a Cancer Research UK Centre and an Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre providing key infrastructure for cancer research. The UCL Cancer Institute is a £40 million investment in central London based at University College London (UCL), one of the world\’s top universities and a founding member of the Crick Institute. UCL Cancer Institute draws together over 300 scientists working together to develop world-class basic and translational cancer research. Through our associations with UCL Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the Institute has greater clinical links than any comparable centre in the UK and a significant impact on the delivery of clinical service to cancer patients. This concentration of excellence, access to patients and significant recent investment of cancer treatment and research infrastructure makes UCL a global leader.
Dr Nnenna Kanu is the Chief Scientific Officer of the Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer centre of Excellence. The Kanu Lab is a multi-disciplinary group of passionate and determined individuals who will provide the successful candidate with a stimulating and conducive environment to participate and grow as a scientist. The research in the lab is conducted in close collaboration with local and international scientists and clinicians, especially across the TRACERx and PEACE consortia and the CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence. These collaborative environments will provide the successful candidate with opportunities to learn from a large network of talented professionals.
Prof. Mariam Jamal-Hanjani is Principal Investigator of the TRACERx study at UCL and Chief Investigator of the PEACE study. The Jamal-Hanjani Lab is a multi-disciplinary group of passionate and determined individuals who will provide the successful candidate with a stimulating and conducive environment to participate and grow as a scientist. The research in the lab is conducted in close collaboration with local and international scientists and clinicians, especially across the TRACERx and PEACE consortia and the CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence. These collaborative environments will provide the successful candidate with opportunities to learn from a large network of talented professionals.
About the role
We are seeking a collaborative and self-motivated bioinformatician post-doctoral fellow to work on extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) in a vibrant and highly collegiate environment. ecDNA are circular genomic structures that can drive ultra-high copy number amplification and correlate with poor clinical outcomes, yet their evolution, detection, and targeting remain largely unclear. This project aims to analyse ecDNA evolution over time using single-cell RNA/ATAC sequencing and to develop a ctDNA-based approach for detecting and monitoring ecDNA to support biomarker and treatment development. The project will leverage existing whole genome sequencing data from multi-region matched primary and metastatic tumours from the TRACERx lung cancer evolution and PEACE research autopsy programmes and will be part of the eDyNAmiC Cancer Grand Challenge.
The positions are fixed term for 2 years.
About TRACERx and PEACE
TRACERx is a UK-wide lung cancer evolution programme which started in 2014 and has to date recruited over 820 patients. It is the first longitudinal cancer genomics study that forms the first national UK consortium focused on deciphering cancer evolution over space and time. TRACERx involves multi-region sequence analyses of lung cancers (5000+ exomes and whole genomes in over 800 patients) from pre-invasive through to primary and metastatic disease setting, in order to understand cancer evolutionary life histories with detailed clinical annotation. The co-primary end points of the study are to investigate the relationship between intratumour heterogeneity and clinical outcomes, and to determine the impact of cancer therapies on intratumour heterogeneity. TRACERx has enabled additional analyses in the areas of immunology, circulating biomarkers, cancer cachexia and body composition, radiomics and tumour microenvironment. Future plans include tumour metabolic imaging and mass spectrometry metabolomics. TRACERx is supported by the excellent bioinformatics facilities already available in our Centre together with substantial investment in bioinformatics staff, data storage and computer processing power. TRACERx has been highly successful, as of 2023 sequencing data from more than 400 patients have been fully analysed resulting in a flow of high-impact publications, including manuscripts in Nature, Cell, Science and New England Journal of Medicine.
PEACE is a pan cancer national research autopsy programme in which post-mortem sampling allows access to tissue from all sites of metastasis, and to date has recruited over 390 patients and performed over 240 autopsies. PEACE aims to investigate the biological processes underpinning metastatic disease, including genomic and metabolic drivers of tumour dissemination, and failure of the adaptive immune system. The combination of both TRACERx and PEACE with patient co-recruitment has established an unprecedented resource of multi-regional matched primary and metastatic tissue, and therefore facilitates tissue- and blood-based analyses from diagnosis to death. This is the first national autopsy programme at such scale with a consortium of high calibre scientists and clinicians focussed on various projects relevant to metastasis and drug resistance.
About eDyNAmiC
eDyNAmiC is an international team of scientists with close collaborations tackling the challenges posed by extrachromosomal DNA in cancer. Supported by Cancer Grand Challenges, a global initiative addressing key issues in cancer research, it is funded by CRUK and the NIH (https://www.cancergrandchallenges.org/edynamic). The team focuses on understanding ecDNA biology and developing new strategies to target its mechanisms in cancer.
About you
The successful applicant should have a proven track record of publications, have previous experience with genomics data analysis, be fluent in at least one of the following programming languages: C++, Python or R, and will have strong skills in the field of genomics and desirably one or more of the following: tumour biology, ctDNA/blood-based biomarkers, evolutionary biology, statistics and mathematics.
Appointment at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be at Research Assistant Grade 6B, with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis.
Applications should include a CV and a Cover Letter: In the Cover Letter please provide evidence of the essential and desirable criteria in the Person Specification part of the Job Description. (By including a Cover Letter, you can leave blank the \’Why you have applied for this role\’ field in the application form, which is limited in number of characters it will allow.)
What we offer
- 41 days holiday (including 27 days annual leave, 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
- Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
- Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
- On‑site nursery
- On‑site gym
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
- Discounted medical insurance
Please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/rewards-and-benefits to find out more.
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
As London\’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world\’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.
We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL\’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.
You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here : https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/
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Research Fellow - 3 Positions Bioinformatics - Extrachromosomal DNA and tumour evolution Scientist employer: UCL
Contact Detail:
UCL Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Research Fellow - 3 Positions Bioinformatics - Extrachromosomal DNA and tumour evolution Scientist
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in your field! Attend conferences, workshops, or even local meetups. The more you engage with others, the better your chances of hearing about job openings before they’re even advertised.
✨Show Off Your Skills
Don’t just wait for interviews to showcase your talents. Create a portfolio or a GitHub repository where you can display your projects and research. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table!
✨Tailor Your Approach
When reaching out to potential employers, make sure to tailor your message to each one. Mention specific projects or values that resonate with you. This shows you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in their work.
✨Apply Through Our Website
We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance at landing that dream role. It’s the quickest way to get your application in front of the right people and shows you’re serious about joining our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Research Fellow - 3 Positions Bioinformatics - Extrachromosomal DNA and tumour evolution Scientist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Make sure to highlight your relevant experience and how it aligns with the role. Don’t forget to mention your passion for bioinformatics and cancer research – we love seeing that enthusiasm!
Tailor Your CV: When applying, tailor your CV to showcase your skills in genomics data analysis and programming languages like C++, Python, or R. Highlight any publications or projects that demonstrate your expertise in tumour biology or evolutionary biology.
Follow the Application Instructions: Make sure you include all required documents, like your CV and cover letter. Remember, you can leave the 'Why you have applied for this role' field blank since your cover letter will cover that for us!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smooth application process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us without any hiccups!
How to prepare for a job interview at UCL
✨Know Your Research
Before the interview, dive deep into the research being conducted at UCL, especially in the Kanu and Jamal-Hanjani Labs. Familiarise yourself with their recent publications and ongoing projects related to extrachromosomal DNA and tumour evolution. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you engage in meaningful discussions during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Skills
Be ready to discuss your experience with genomics data analysis and programming languages like C++, Python, or R. Prepare specific examples of how you've applied these skills in past projects, particularly in relation to tumour biology or ctDNA. Highlighting your technical expertise will demonstrate that you're a strong fit for the role.
✨Prepare Thoughtful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare insightful questions about the lab's collaborative environment, the TRACERx and PEACE studies, and how your role would contribute to their goals. This shows that you're not just interested in the position, but also in how you can be part of their mission.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Given the collaborative nature of the research at UCL, be sure to highlight your teamwork experiences. Share examples of how you've worked effectively with others in multidisciplinary settings, as this will resonate well with the interviewers who value a collegial atmosphere.