Postdoctoral Research Assistants at University of Dundee

1. Postdoctoral Research Assistant

University of Dundee - MRC PPU

Location: Dundee

Salary: £33,309 to £40,927 Grade 7.

Hours: Full Time

Contract Type: Fixed-Term/Contract

Placed On: 19th April 2022

Closes: 19th June 2022

Job Ref: SLSC1076

Summary of Job Purpose and Principal Duties

We invite applications to join the newly established laboratory of Dr Kirby Swatek. The goal of the Swatek lab is to understand the antiviral roles of a ubiquitin-like modifier called Interferon-Stimulated Gene 15 (ISG15). As its name suggests, ISG15 is highly upregulated in interferon-treated and virus-infected cells and marks thousands of proteins to regulate the host immune response. Surprisingly, however, our mechanistic understanding of ISG15’s contributions to antiviral signalling is largely unknown. The goal of the position is to characterise the cellular machinery that writes, reads, and erases these modifications. The project merges several disciplines, complements ongoing lab efforts, and expands upon our recent discoveries in this area. The postdoc will have access to several exciting new tools in the lab, as well as state-of-the-art equipment conveniently located in the School of Life Sciences. While the successful applicant will work independently, there will be plenty of opportunities to collaborate with researchers within and outside the MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit.

For informal enquiries or discussions, please contact Dr Kirby Swatek (KSwatek001@dundee.ac.uk).

Candidate Requirements:

PhD (or will complete your PhD studies within six months of the application deadline).

A track record of academic success.

A keen interest in ubiquitin biology and cell signaling.

A strong background in one or more of the following areas: mass spectrometry, cell biology, purification of multiprotein complexes, and structural biology.

The ability to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of enthusiastic scientists.

Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written).

This is a 2-year MRC-funded position with a possibility of extension. The appointment will be on the University of Dundee Grade 7 salary scale.

Appointment as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant on the Grade 7 salary scale is dependent upon you having been awarded a PhD. An appointment may be considered if you are shortly expected to be awarded a PhD. In this case the initial appointment would be made as a Research Assistant on the Training Grade 7 salary scale.

Commitment to DORA

The School of Life Sciences has been fully committed to the principals of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) since 2013. In assessing applicants, we consider the scientific quality of their published research papers, but do not take into account where the papers were published and do not consider journal-based metrics, such as Journal Impact Factors.

MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit

The Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC PPU, http://www.ppu.mrc.ac.uk/) is a top-tier research institute conveniently located in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee, a leading university in life science research. Research Groups within the MRC PPU focus on understanding how protein phosphorylation and ubiquitylation control fundamental aspects of human health and how disruption of these cellular signals results in disease.

Additional Information:

For information on our values:

https://www.ppu.mrc.ac.uk/Equity-Diversity-and-Inclusion

For information on life in Dundee:

https://www.ppu.mrc.ac.uk/join-us/life-in-dundee

To learn more about our research:

https://www.ppu.mrc.ac.uk/research

As an internationally diverse institution, we welcome job applicants from all countries and nationalities. The School of Life Sciences is proud to employ staff from over 40 different nations.

                                                                     

APPLY HERE

2. Postdoctoral Research Assistant

University of Dundee - MRC PPU

Reference Number SMED1012

Job Title Postdoctoral Research Assistant (PDRA)

College/SASS School of Medicine

School/Directorate Cellular Medicine

Grade Grade 7 (£33,309 - £40,927)

Job Category Research

Closing Date 29 June 2022

Postdoctoral Researcher; Grade 7; £33,309 to £40,927 per annum depending on experience. 48 months in first instance, Fixed Term.  (Extension may be possible depending on funding).

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join the lab of Sourav Banerjee at the University of Dundee, School of Medicine, on a Medical Research Council funded project. The goal is to study the role of how specific modifications on secreted proteins drive stage IV brain cancer glioblastoma. Almost nothing is known about how modifications on secreted proteins promote tumour-stroma cross-talk in glioblastoma and whether these proteins could serve as detection biomarkers in patients. The aim is to utilise glioblastoma animal models, in vitro cell biology, state-of-the-art proteomic technologies, and patient-derived samples to understand how modified secretome triggers the growth of the deadly brain cancer. The researcher will work in close collaboration with University of Edinburgh, Imperial College London, Mayo Clinic, USA.

The candidate is also expected to travel to national/international conferences and local public engagement events to present their work. The candidate will also be encouraged to develop their own independent research niche and full support will be provided to apply for their own grants/fellowships for transition to independence upon completion of 4 years of post-doctoral work.

The University of Dundee enjoys an international reputation for excellence that attracts top-class students and academics from across the world – with over 140 countries represented in the University community. You will be based at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, one of Europe’s largest teaching hospitals where the School of Medicine provides outstanding opportunities in medical education and training supported by world class research facilities.

Your priorities will include:

To carry out high quality lab-based research, working independently but contributing to the work and well-being of the group;

Work under the guidance of Dr. Sourav Banerjee but assume responsibility for leading and driving the project forward;

Carry out animal breeding, maintenance and generate in vivo cancer models;

Undertake a variety of cell biology and molecular biology techniques, including preparation of proteomics samples and handling Cat. 2 primary samples.         

Who we’re looking for:

• Experience of working within animal models, breeding animal colonies, maintenance of colonies, and tumour engraftment technique/s are essential;

• Expertise in molecular biology and cell biology techniques essential;

• Experience with immunohistochemistry, multi-colour flow cytometry would be a plus;

• Knowledge of tumour immunology would be a plus but not required;

• Holding a PILA/B/C personal animal license would be a plus but not required.

The University of Dundee is a signatory of the Researcher Development Concordat and is committed to enhancing the research environment and culture. Engagement and support of activities which assist the researcher development agenda at the University is therefore essential.

For further information regarding this post, please contact: Dr. Sourav Banerjee, Email: s.y.banerjee@dundee.ac.uk

The closing date for applications is 29 June 2022.

The diversity of our staff and students helps to make the University of Dundee a UK university of choice for undergraduate, postgraduate and distance learning. Family friendly policies, staff networks for BME, Disabled and LGBT staff, membership of Athena SWAN, the ECU Race Equality Charter and Stonewall as well a full range of disability services, create an enjoyable and inclusive place to work.

                                                                     

APPLY HERE

3. Medicinal/Organic Chemistry Scientist (x2), UoD-Boehringer Ingelheim PROTAC drug discovery

University of Dundee - Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery

Reference Number SLSC1090

Job Title Medicinal/Organic Chemistry Scientist (x2), UoD-Boehringer Ingelheim PROTAC drug discovery.

College/SASS School of Life Sciences

School/Directorate Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery

Grade Grade 7 (£33,309 - £40,927)

Job Category Research

Closing Date 27 June 2022

We are seeking 2x Scientists with research experience in organic synthesis and/or medicinal chemistry to join an industry-academia, multi-disciplinary drug discovery team based in the new Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation (CeTPD) within Dundee’s School of Life Sciences.

The team is engaged in a major and expanding collaboration on proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTAC) drug discovery between the laboratories of Professor Alessio Ciulli (http://www.lifesci.dundee.ac.uk/groups/alessio-ciulli) and Boehringer Ingelheim. Our mission is to discover novel small-molecule degraders to treat cancer. The scientist will boost the structure guided medicinal chemistry approaches the team are taking to accelerate translation of research in this field and to develop degrader drug candidates.

This is a unique opportunity to gain experience in world-leading industry-style drug discovery within an academic setting. The posts may also provide opportunities for short work placements at Boehringer Ingelheim’s research site.

 

The positions are available until 31st December 2023 in the first instance and are available to start immediately.

 

Your priorities will include:

Develop new synthetic routes to access project critical compounds.

Critically analyse data to inform your design of new target molecules and solve project challenges.

Innovate to generate novel chemistries to enable higher throughput and/or novel chemical space for PROTACs.

Contribute to medicinal chemistry strategy within projects and communicate hypotheses and progress to the wider team.

Develop team science across the collaboration, working with colleagues across disciplines to enable breakthroughs.

Candidate Requirements:

A minimum of a Ph.D. or Masters with relevant experience in industry in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry or a related discipline is required.

Outstanding academic or industrial track record.

Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.

High level of expertise in synthetic organic chemistry and synthetic route design.

A demonstrated ability to problem-solve within a team environment.

Desirable Skills:

A track record of applying sound medicinal chemistry principles to optimize lead compounds.

Experience applying structure-based drug design approaches.

Appointment on the Grade 7 salary scale is dependent upon you having been awarded a PhD. An appointment may be considered if you are shortly expected to be awarded a PhD. In this case the initial appointment would be made as a Research Assistant on the Training Grade 7 salary scale (Spinal Point 25 – 28).

 

Commitment to DORA

The School of Life Sciences has been fully committed to the principals of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) since 2013. In assessing applicants, we consider the scientific quality of their published research papers, but do not take into account where the papers were published and do not consider journal-based metrics, such as Journal Impact Factors.

Additional Information:

Informal enquiries may be made to Professor Alessio Ciulli, e-mail: a.ciulli@dundee.ac.uk

About the Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation (CeTPD)

Within the University of Dundee, the newly announced Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation (CeTPD) due to open in mid 2022 is being created as a first of its kind Centre leading a number of internationally significant projects. The goal of CeTPD is to innovate the next-generation of small-molecule platforms and modalities to advance chemical and biological insights and therapeutic targets related to human diseases. It aspires to achieve this by openly collaborating with academic, industrial and venture partners, and by inspiring the next-generation of research scientists and leaders.

The University of Dundee main city-centre campus is at the heart of Dundee - an up-and-coming, friendly, compact and affordable city.

Family friendly policies, staff support networks for BME and LGBT staff, membership of Athena Swan and Stonewall, as well a full range of disability services, create an enjoyable and inclusive place to work.

                                                                   

APPLY HERE

For more detail please visit the official site