Technical Specialist -CRISPR Screening in Neurodegeneration

Technical Specialist
-CRISPR Screening in Neurodegeneration

Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life‐changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.

We are seeking a motivated Technical Specialist to join an excellent interdisciplinary team exploring how the immune system responds to and shapes neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). You will perform large‑scale phenotypic CRISPRn screens on human iPSC‑derived microglia to identify modifiers of immune dysfunction relating to neurodegeneration.

The position is based at the Wellcome Sanger Institute under the leadership of Dr Lewis Evans, and forms part of the Open Targets

collaboration between the Sanger Institute, EBI, University of Oxford, and University of Exeter. This initiative brings together leading experts in human and cellular genetics(Bassett, Bayraktar), stem cell modelling (Cooper, Cowley, Evans), and computational modelling(Lotfollahi, ,Saez-Rodriguez,Strauss) to identify new therapeutic targets for neurodegeneration.

• Work with the team to develop and perform large‑scale phenotypic CRISPR screens in human iPSC‑derived microglia
• Develop and implement scalable assays to model immune responses and disease‑relevant phenotypes in iPSC‑based systems
• Validate genetic modulators of immune responses using biochemical assays and high‑content imaging, in collaboration with partner teams
• Collaborate closely with the groups of Drs Bassett, Cooper, and Prof Cowley, who are developing and characterising disease‑relevant iPSC models under genetic and external stressors to identify and test the optimal assays
• Collaborate with Dr Bayraktar’s group and computational teams led by Drs Strauss, Lotfollahi and Prof Saez‑Rodriguez to integrate data you would generate with patient data to prioritise perturbation targets and disease pathways
• Contribute to a unique, cross‑comparative analysis integrating cellular models and patient‑derived data to uncover mechanisms of immune dysregulation in neurodegeneration

Open Targets (OT) aims to systematically identify and prioritise drug targets by combining genetic, clinical, and functional genomics data. It is a collaborative initiative between the Wellcome Sanger Institute, a world‑leading genomics institution; the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL‑EBI), a global leader in the management, integration, and analysis of public domain life science data; and world‑leading pharmaceutical companies such as GSK, Sanofi, MSD, Pfizer, and Genentech.

As part of the Open Targets team at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, you’ll join a world‑class research environment with access to cutting‑edge facilities and mentoring from leading experts across academia and industry. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to a large‑scale, collaborative project at the intersection of genetics, immunology, and neuroscience applying advanced technologies such as CRISPR, iPSC models, single‑cell transcriptomics and large‑scale phenotypic screening to drive discovery and therapeutic innovation.

Apply now to join a dynamic team advancing our understanding of how immune mechanisms influence neurodegenerative disease and to help shape the next generation of therapeutic discovery.

• Degree, MSc, or equivalent experience in a relevant subject area e.g. Cell Biology, Neuroscience, Immunology, Molecular Biology or a closely related field
• Extensive practical experience with core techniques in cell biology (e.g. mammalian cell culture and cellular assays) and molecular biology (e.g. cloning and sequencing)
• Strict adherence to SOPs and attention to detail when performing routine tasks.
• Exceptional interpersonal, and written and oral communication skills
• Ability to develop, troubleshoot, and implement new assays and techniques
• In‑depth knowledge of genome engineering and pooled CRISPR screening
• Excellent organisational and time management skills and a proven ability to work to tight deadlines
• Proven track record in…