MRC Postdoctoral Research Scientist LMS 2729

View Vacancy -- MRC Postdoctoral Research Scientist LMS 2729

Open Date

18/11/2025, 09:25

Close Date

31/12/2025, 23:55

Research Institute

MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences

Research Institute / Unit Information

(LMS) is a biomedical research institute where scientists and clinicians collaborate to advance the understanding of biology and its application to medicine. We are proud to launch our new Team Science initiative, marking a bold step toward a more collaborative, challenge-driven model of research.

UK Research and Innovation is a new entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, more information can be found at

Band

MRC - 4

Location

London

Salary

£42,694 per annum plus London allowances £5,560 per annum

Allowances

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 year three.

Contract Type

Fixed Term

Job Type

Science

Full Time / Part Time

Full Time

Contract Length

3 years

Job Description

Overall purpose:

The postdoctoral researcher will join a multi-disciplinary team working on a multi-lab team science initiative aimed at understanding and modulating cytosolic nucleic acid sensing pathways involved in chronic inflammation and ageing ("inflammageing"). The successful candidate will integrate expertise in culture of primary cells and organoids, knowledge on molecular, cellular biology, immunology and functional screens.

The postholder will employ a combination of cellular systems of senescence and develop assays to evaluate the effect of nucleic acid sensing pathways (e.g. cGAS/STING, RIG-I, MDA5 and others) using functional genomics on senescent phenotypes and the interaction of senescent and immune cells. As part of the project, the postholder will develop sophisticated co-culture systems to evaluate the interaction of senescent and immune cells in the context of ageing.

The postholder will be supervised by Prof. Gil (Senescence group) and Prof. Brodin (systems Immunology). More broadly, this post is part of a Institute wide collaboration and the postholder will be tightly coordinated and involved in meetings with other PIs and researchers working in the project.

Main duties / key responsibilities:

• Establish novel cell systems to study senescence (using primary cells and organoids) relevant for ageing
• Establish systems to study the interaction between senescence and immune cells
• Perform functional screens and assays (using RNAi, CRISPR and drugs) to assess the role of nucleic acid sensing pathways
• Develop and optimise cell culture assays to assess the interaction between immune and senescent cells and evaluate the effect of different perturbations
• Collaborate with other scientists to investigate candidates in preclinical models and clinical samples
• Provide training and support to junior lab members, including PhD students
• Participate in regular lab meetings, journal clubs, and institute seminars
• Write scientific papers and present findings at national and international conferences
• Take an active part in the academic activities of the LMS
• Form good working relationships with other members of LMS groups as well as internal and external collaborators

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications / Training required (will be assessed from the application):

Essential:

• PhD in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or Immunology

Desirable:

• Knowledge on senescence
• Knowledge on immunology

Previous work experience required (will be assessed from the application and at the interview):

Essential:

• Good written communication skills in English
• Extensive cell culture experience
• Experience with functional genomics (CRISPR, RNAi)
• Track record of publishing scientific results in peer-reviewed journals, including a first-author paper

Desirable:

• Experience with high-throughput screening
• Experience in high content microscopy
• Experience with organoid, 3D or co-culture systems

Personal skills/behaviours/qualities (will be assessed at the interview):

Essential:

• Excellent laboratory skills
• Excellent organisational skills
• Excellent attention to details
• Excellent creativity
• High-Motivation and perseverance
• The post holder should be prepared to work unsociable hours as work demands from time to time
• Ability and willingness to adapt to changing timetables or work patterns as dictated by changing circumstances
• Ability to work under pressure while maintaining a high degree of accuracy
• Proven ability to prioritise, plan ahead and manage a high volume of work to meet deadlines, both prescribed and self-imposed
• Ability to use own initiative and work independently and as part of a team, as required
• Problem solving abilities
• Proven multitasking abilities
• Ability to work in a collaborative research environment
• Willingness to give and receive help with challenging problems
• Good verbal communication skills in English
• Ability to communicate its science in a clear way
• Good interpersonal skills
• Willingness to share knowledge and transfer skills to other members of the group on a daily basis

Further Information

Applicants should submit one 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). Please quote reference number LMS 2729.

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

The MRC is a unique working environment where scientific researchers and professional support staff can actively partake in world class innovation and collaboration opportunities and their skills and knowledge through accessing a wide catalogue of training & development, including professional registration with the Science Council.

In addition, MRC (part of UKRI) provides its community of employees access to a whole host of useful benefits, including a 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 -

Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We warmly invite people from diverse backgrounds and heritage, including people who identify as having a disability, to apply for a role that excites them. As "Disability Confident" employers, we guarantee to interview all applicants who have disclosed they have a disability and who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.

We will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as an essential part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check. The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.