MRC Postdoctoral Research Scientist

MRC Postdoctoral Research Scientist

Salary: £41,344 plus London allowance £5,385 per annum*

Fixed term (3 Years)

London, UK

About us

The MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) is a biomedical research institute where scientists and clinicians collaborate to advance the understanding of biology and its application to medicine. LMS is one of three directly funded MRC research institutes and enjoys close links with our partners at Imperial College London and at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

About the role

The DNA Motors Group, led by Prof. Luis Aragón, investigates the molecular mechanisms that govern genome organisation and dynamics. A central focus of our research is on the Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) complexes — cohesin, condensin, and Smc5/6 — and their essential roles in DNA repair, replication, and chromatin architecture.

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join our team to explore the mechanisms of SMC complexes using advanced single-molecule biophysical techniques. The project will involve detailed structure, function analysis of DNA and ssDNA interactions, including binding, tethering, and loop extrusion activities of SMC proteins.

About You

You will need a PhD in of Biophysics, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or any other related discipline and possess excellent experimental skills and experience in single-molecule Biophysics. Experience working on SMC complexes, particularly Smc5/6 is essential as well as having experience using optical or magnetic tweezers instruments. The successful candidate will develop and apply a range of single-molecule approaches (including optical and magnetic tweezers) to dissect the structure–activity relationships of SMC complexes. The post will centre on the SMC5/6 complex, but will also engage with comparative studies of cohesin and condensin (see Cutts et al. EMBO, 2024; Cutts et al. Nat Comms, 2025). You will work with state-of-the-art instrumentation including the LUMICKS C-Trap optical tweezers system, and will be responsible for reconstitution of DNA substrates, data acquisition, and analysis.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement (30 days plus 2.5 privilege days & 8 bank holidays), family friendly policies (6 months full pay maternity & adoption leave), a range of shopping/travel discounts, access to our Employee Assistant Programme Scheme, Health and Wellbeing Support and a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. Please follow this link to find out more - Benefits

How to apply

For full details of this post and to complete an online application, please visit and upload your CV, names and contacts of two scientific references along with a cover letter stating why you are applying for this role (providing evidence against the requirements of the job as per the job description and person specification). Applications without a cover letter will not be accepted. Please quote reference number 2714.

Closing date: 30 September

Please note that applications may be reviewed by both LMS and Imperial staff

*Additional allowances comprise a £1,000 lump sum Settlement Allowance plus a yearly Training Allowance of £850 in the first year, paid in monthly instalments. The Training Allowance increases to £1,300 in year two and £1,800 in the third year.