Postdoctoral Research Associate; Wet Lab

About the Role

We are looking for a highly motivated and skilled Wet Lab Postdoctoral Research Associate to join our team and contribute to an established and highly successful research program focused on uncovering the cellular and molecular determinants of response to cancer immunotherapy.

Our recent work has identified the precise local immune microenvironment surrounding colorectal cancer cells that is required for effective immunotherapy response—moving beyond the traditional classification of immune “hot” and “cold” tumours and independent of established biological subtypes (DOIs: 10.1053/j.gastro.; 10.1016/j.ccell.).

• Work with co-cultures of cancer and non-cancer (mostly immune) cells.
• Establish patient derived fragments from fresh human tissues to test the effect of mutations.
• Prepare human samples for spatial transcriptomics and high-dimensional imaging experiments.
• Run CRISPR-based perturbation assays and functional assays to reveal mechanistic insights.
• Work closely with computational and clinical fellows in a highly interdisciplinary setting.

We’re seeking a wet-lab scientist with:

• A strong background in human biology.
• Proven expertise and independence in cell and molecular biology.
• Experience in 3D and 2D cell co-cultures.

Barts Cancer Institute (BCI) is a Cancer Research UK Centre of Excellence whose work aims to transform the lives of those with and at risk of cancer through innovative research. BCI is internationally renowned in many areas of cancer research. It combines ground-breaking basic research with the expertise of clinicians and clinician scientists from the Centre for Experimental Cancer Medicine and the Barts NHS Trust to achieve improvements in cancer patient care.

BCI is also a partner in the CRUK City of London Major Centre (together with UCL, Kings and the Francis Crick Institute) which is a Centre of Excellence in Biotherapeutics.

At Queen Mary University of London, we believe that a diversity of ideas helps us achieve the previously unthinkable.

Throughout our history, we’ve fostered social justice and improved lives through academic excellence. And we continue to live and breathe this spirit today, not because it’s simply ‘the right thing to do’ but for what it helps us achieve and the intellectual brilliance it delivers.

We continue to embrace diversity of thought and opinion in everything we do, in the belief that when views collide, disciplines interact, and perspectives intersect, truly original thought takes form.

We offer competitive salaries, access to a generous pension scheme, 30 days’ leave per annum (pro‑rata for part‑time/fixed‑term), a season ticket loan scheme and access to a comprehensive range of personal and professional development opportunities. In addition, we offer a range of work–life balance and family‑friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, and campus facilities.

Queen Mary’s commitment to our diverse and inclusive community is embedded in our appointments processes. Reasonable adjustments will be made at each stage of the recruitment process for any candidate with a disability. We are open to considering applications from candidates wishing to work flexibly.

£38,419 to £42,091 per annum.