Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Salary Range £31,604 to £41,929 dependent on experience
3-year fixed term contract
One of the main challenges that we face in treating cancer is the likelihood that, at the time of diagnosis, malignant cells have already left the primary tumour and spread to other organs. Thus, even following complete removal of the primary tumour, disseminated cells can reside within ‘metastatic niches’ only to reappear later as metastasis.
A substantial donation from Ms Annie McNab to the CRUK Beatson Institute has enabled us to establish a new Centre for Cancer Innovation in Glasgow to address this significant challenge to effective cancer treatment. The McNab Centre for Cancer Innovation, which is led by Profs. Ross Cagan, Jim Norman and Dr Chiara Braconi, is a laboratory that focuses on the development and application of new technologies to identify and target the vulnerabilities of cancers once they have spread from the primary site to a metastatic one. We are developing bioengineered human tissues and other technologies—including mouse and Drosophila models—to recapitulate the microenvironments that are encountered in the liver, bone, and lungs by metastatic cancers. We will combine these approaches with state-of-the-art screening and chemical evolution to develop new leads for drugs to treat metastasis to these organs.
We welcome applications from bright and ambitious scientists for the following position that has recently become available within the McNab Centre, which will be based in the Institute of Cancer Sciences and CRUK Beatson Institute, Glasgow.
Drosophila Models of Metastasis
We seek an ambitious post-doctoral scientist to generate Drosophila models to enable development/evolution of drugs and drug combinations to target cancer cells in metastatic microenvironments. The successful applicant will deploy Drosophila genetics to create fly ‘avatars’ of human metastatic cancers. These will then be used to explore how cancers disseminate, and to characterise the microenvironmental changes that occur in insect tissues as they foster metastatic growth. The rapidity and high throughput of Drosophila models will then enable the successful candidate to identify compounds with potential to target metastasis and to work with chemists to further ‘evolve’ these toward anti-metastatic therapies.
A PhD in cell, developmental or cancer biology is essential and experience in Drosophila genetics and/or advanced tissue imaging techniques would be an advantage.
Informal enquiries should be directed to Prof. Ross Cagan (
[email protected]).
The Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute is committed to increase the number of female scientists at this level and encourages female applicants to apply. We have a highly attractive, innovative maternity policy, which includes providing a postdoc with support and funding so that their projects can continue during their maternity leave.
To apply, please follow the instructions on our website.
Closing Date for Applications: 10th October 2021
