MRC Postdoctoral Research Scientist LMS 2734

The MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) is a biomedical research institute where scientists and clinicians collaborate to advance the understanding of biology and its application to medicine. We are proud to launch our new Team Science initiative, marking a bold step toward a more collaborative, challenge‑driven model of research.

A new exciting opportunity has arisen for a 3‑Year Postdoctoral Research Scientist to join the Reproductive Health and Fertility: Ageing, Sex and the Environment Team Science project led by J Vaquerizas, E Martinez‑Perez, and P. Hajkova. Reproductive health is an important aspect of human wellbeing, yet infertility affects approximately one in six people globally. Despite its prevalence and significant emotional, societal and economic impact, the biological mechanisms underlying infertility and reproductive ageing remain poorly understood.

We have put together a team of internationally‑leading experts in germline biology and genome function that will use transdisciplinary experimental approaches to understand how intrinsic and extrinsic factors influence female and male fertility and reproductive ageing. We are looking for a talented and self‑motivated chromosome biology specialist to join the Reproductive Health and Fertility: Ageing, Sex and the Environment Team Science initiative. The main goal of the project will be to investigate sex‑specific differences in meiotic chromosome organisation and function in different organisms (C. elegans, mouse and human samples) using super‑resolution microscopy, proteomics, and 3‑D genome conformation experimental approaches.

Main duties / key responsibilities:

• Plan and carry out research in accordance with the project aims
• Interact and collaborate with group members
• Provide training and advice for other group members including PhD students
• Write‑up and publish results in peer‑reviewed journals
• Take an active part in the academic activities of the LMS
• Attend and contribute to lab meetings, journal clubs and seminar presentations
• Present data at national and international meetings (where and when appropriate)
• Form good working relationships with other members of the group as well as internal and external collaborators

Person Specification:

Education / Qualifications / Training required:

• Essential: PhD (or equivalent experience) in an area related to chromosome biology or meiosis
• Essential: A first‑author manuscript published or submitted from PhD work

Previous work experience required:

• Essential: Extensive experience with basic molecular biology experimental approaches
• Essential: Microscopy skills to investigate chromosome biology
• Essential: Evidence that the candidate can plan and carry on a research project
• Essential: Good written communication skills in English
• Desirable: Experience working with C. elegans and or mouse as model organisms
• Desirable: Experience in preparing samples for omics approaches (proteomics, Turbo‑ID, genome conformation)

Knowledge and experience:

• Essential: Good knowledge of general chromosome biology
• Essential: An interest in genome organisation and function
• Desirable: Strong publication record and exposure to scientific meetings
• Desirable: Previous experience working on meiotic chromosomes

Personal skills / behaviours / qualities:

• Essential: Excellent laboratory skills
• Essential: Excellent organisational skills
• Essential: Excellent attention to details
• Essential: Excellent creativity
• Essential: High‑motivation and perseverance
• Essential: Ability and willingness to adapt to changing timetables or work patterns as dictated by changing circumstances
• Essential: Ability to work under pressure while maintaining a high degree of accuracy
• Essential: Proven ability to prioritise, plan ahead and manage a high volume of work to meet deadlines, both prescribed and self‑imposed
• Essential: Ability to use own initiative and work independently and as part of a team, as required
• Essential: Problem solving abilities
• Essential: Proven multitasking abilities
• Essential: Ability to work in a collaborative research environment
• Essential: Willingness to give and receive help with challenging problems
• Essential: Good verbal communication skills in English
• Essential: Ability to communicate its science in a clear way
• Essential: Good interpersonal skills
• Essential: Willingness to share knowledge and transfer skills to other members of the group on a daily basis

Further Information:

Please upload your CV, names and contacts of two scientific references, along with a cover letter stating why you are applying for this role (providing evidence against the requirements of the job as per the job description and person specification). Please quote reference number LMS 2734.

The MRC is a unique working environment where scientific researchers and professional support staff can actively partake in world class innovation and collaboration opportunities and their skills and knowledge through accessing a wide catalogue of training & development, including professional registration with the Science Council. In addition, MRC (part of UKRI) provides its community of employees access to a whole host of useful benefits, including a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement (30 days plus 2.5 privilege days & 8 bank holidays), family friendly policies (6 months full pay maternity & adoption leave), a range of shopping / travel discounts, access to our Employee Assistant Programme Scheme, Health and Wellbeing Support and a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.

Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We warmly invite people from diverse backgrounds and heritage, including people who identify as having a disability, to apply for a role that excites them. As "Disability Confident" employers, we guarantee to interview all applicants who have disclosed they have a disability and who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.

We will conduct a full and comprehensive pre‑employment check as an essential part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check. The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening / vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re‑run security clearance as required during the course of employment.