Research Fellow - Department of Cardiovascular Sciences Grade 7

Department of Cardiovascular Sciences and Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine and Health

Location:

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822

Grade: 7

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to September 2031

Closing date: 20 th October 2026

There are 2 positions available

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is the process by which tumour cells imitate blood vessels allowing tumours to grow far more aggressively and independent of a traditional blood vessel network. We have found this process to be abundant in paediatric soft tissue sarcomas (particularly Rhabdomyosarcoma RMS), driven by developmental plasticity and enriched in relapsed and metastatic cases where there are few effective treatment options and 5-year survival below 20%.

The Wragg group is looking for an exceptional candidate to work on a 5-year UKRI Medical Research Council funded project to define the mechanism of vasculogenic mimicry in RMS, identify therapies that modulate VM and understand their mechanisms and Develop VM-targeted therapeutics. The project combines in vitro and in vivo tumour and blood vessel modelling, tissue histology, advanced imaging, single cell transcriptomics and bioinformatics approaches.

The successful applicant will have the opportunity to collaborate with researchers across the College of Medicine and Health in cancer and genomic, cardiovascular and metabolic sciences, as well as national and international collaborators with opportunities for personal and professional development within research leadership, teaching and fellowship mentoring.

• To design, perform and record experiments that inform this area, including developing new methodologies.
• Work within specified research grants and projects and contribute to writing bids
• Operate within area of specialism and develop ideas beyond that area.
• Analyse and interpret research findings and results
• Contribute to generating funding
• Support other members of the research group and work with lab members towards publications and long-term projects.
• Contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and/or public understanding of the discipline or similar).

• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
• Bring the ability to invent new, or adapt existing, methodologies.
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Analyse and interpret data, recommend next steps within the context of current literature.
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Keep accurate, comprehensive and clear records.
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Fosters a fair and equitable workplace for all staff
• Identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant university policies and procedures

• Essential: A PhD relevant to the research area (or near completion), or equivalent PhD level qualifications.
• Essential:
  Demonstrable research experience, or detailed knowledge of, tumour microenvironment modelling, particularly relating to tumour vasculature.
• Essential:
  Proficient skills in cell culture, 3D and co-culture assays, confocal microscopy and transcriptional profiling.
• Essential:
  Evidence of having…