Postdoctoral Training Fellow in Molecular Addictions - ref:1571241

Postdoctoral Training Fellow in Molecular Addictions
Closing Date of vacancy: 24 August 2016
Division of Cancer Therapeutics
Molecular Addictions Team
Fixed Term Contract for 36 months
Salary Range: £29,517 to £33,740 per annum
Work Location: Sutton (Surrey)

The Institute of Cancer Research, London, is one of the world’s most influential cancer research institutes, with an outstanding record of achievement dating back more than 100 years. We provided the first convincing evidence that DNA damage is the basic cause of cancer, laying the foundation for the now universally accepted idea that cancer is a genetic disease. Today, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) leads the world at isolating cancer-related genes and discovering new targeted drugs for personalised cancer treatment. Under the leadership of our Chief Executive, Professor Paul Workman FMedSci, the ICR is ranked as the UK’s leading academic research centre. Together with our partner The Royal Marsden, we are rated in the top four cancer centres globally. The ICR is committed to attracting, developing and retaining the best minds in the world to join us in our mission – to make the discoveries that defeat cancer.

The Division of Cancer Therapeutics, is a multidisciplinary 'bench to bedside' centre, dedicated to the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. The Division’s exciting goal is to discover high quality drug candidates for validated biological targets and to progress these candidates to clinical trial. All the scientific disciplines are in place to make this possible, including medicinal chemistry, biology, drug metabolism and clinical specialists. This is an exciting and fast moving area of cancer research, and offers the opportunity to work within a multi-disciplinary environment using state-of-the-art techniques and equipment.

We are seeking two highly motivated Postdoctoral Training Fellows to work in our Molecular Addictions Team (led by Dr Igor Vivanco), located in Sutton, London. The two positions will be funded by a Cancer Research UK Programme Foundation award. The successful applicant will use biochemical and cellular techniques, as well as omics approaches to characterise the newly discovered non-canonical functions of the oncogenic kinase AKT. In addition to studying this exciting new area of signal transduction research, the projects will involve the identification and validation of new nodes for therapeutic intervention. To facilitate this effort, a number of partially characterized Akt mutants found in human cancers will be used.

Candidates should possess a PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology or Cell Biology, have developed a range of skills through experience in these areas and be able to work in an interdisciplinary environment towards the goal of performing cellular and biochemical assays required for pathway analysis. A strong background in cancer research, and familiarity with pharmacology and molecular target validation approaches and methods is essential.

This is an ideal opportunity for an enthusiastic, committed biologist to make an important contribution to improved therapies for cancer patients, while gaining experience and training in drug discovery skills in an institute with a track record of success.

To apply, please visit the ICR website and follow instructions.