Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Edinburgh

Grade UE07: £41,064 - £48,822 per annum pro-rata if part-time

Institute of Genetics and Cancer

Full-time: 35 hours per week

Fixed term: for 24 months in the first instance

The Opportunity: Cancer Grand Challenges – from DNA damage to the mechanisms of mutagenesis

We are looking to employ a post-doctoral researcher to join the group of Professor Martin Taylor at the Institute of Genetics and Cancer (IGC), working to understand the mechanisms that drive mutagenesis. In this post you will be a key member of the international Cancer Grand Challenges CAUSE team mechanistically relating DNA damage to the mutations it generates. This is pioneering research in a highly collaborative international team embedded within a well-supported, collegiate and enthusiastic research group.

This specific role will drive the development and application of technologies to detect and map DNA damage and modifications within the human genome. You will produce DNA sequencing libraries containing known non-canonical nucleotides for training machine learning models in the decoding of primary DNA sequencing data. You will develop, refine and validate the machine learning approaches for the probabilistic detection and quantification of non-canonical nucleotides. ONT Nanopore and PacBio HiFi sequencing will be the primary initial platforms for data generation and model training. Knowledge and experience of these platforms would be an advantage.

The successful candidate will have experience in molecular biology and nucleic acid manipulation, and experience in the training of machine learning models on time-series-like data. You will have ownership of your own projects and work closely with experts in biochemistry, high-accuracy mutation detection and the analysis of mass-spectrometry data. The post holder will have many opportunities for multidisciplinary collaborative working both within the IGC and with CAUSE partners based at the Sanger Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Harvard University, University of San Diego and University of Minnesota. The wider Cancer Grand Challenge community will also provide excellent opportunities for training, professional and network development.

Applicants must have a PhD in molecular biology or a related discipline for appointment at Research Associate level. Applicants close to completion of their PhDs will also be considered where experience is directly relevant.

The University of Edinburgh is a world-class organisation. We look for the best in the field across all disciplines and provide a working environment where academics can develop their careers and passion for their chosen subject area.

The University isn’t just any employer. We are part of a local community and a contributor to global thinking, progress and research. In Edinburgh, you are in one of the world’s most attractive cities with active arts and social sectors, while working in a University that has made significant contributions to society, medicine, physics and teaching for over four centuries. Our people have helped create the modern world and are working on more ground-breaking technologies and practices.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week); however, we are open to considering part-time or flexible working patterns. Initially a 24-month contract is offered, with the possibility of extension.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

• A competitive salary.
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options.

Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion. The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and aim to make appointments only on the criteria of merit and evidence.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages. The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant.

Key dates to note: The closing date for applications is 29th May 2026. Unless stated otherwise, the closing time for applications is 11:59 pm (UK time). If you are applying from outside the UK, the closing time shown on our adverts will automatically adjust to your browser’s local time zone.