Postdoctoral Fellow – A variant to function map of lung cancer

• locations
• Hinxton, Cambridgeshire

• time type
• Full time

• posted on
• Posted Today

• job requisition id
• JR103470

Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.

We are recruiting a Postdoctoral Fellow to join our Coelho Group for a 3 year fixed term contract. Drug resistance is a major limitation to the long-term efficacy of drugs used to treat patients with cancer. The aim of this project is to use CRISPR-Cas9 based screening technologies, such as base editing and prime editing, to systematically investigate the function of DNA variants commonly found in lung cancer. This project will couple single-cell transcriptomics approaches to gene editing to deeply characterise cancer variant function at scale. These findings will develop our understanding of cancer progression and drug resistance mechanisms and will be used to direct new therapeutic strategies to overcome drug resistant disease. You will be responsible for executing and analysing large-scale screens and single-cell sequencing experiments, presenting findings internally and externally, and writing-up publications.

What you'll be doing:

Executing and analysing large-scale screens and single-cell sequencing experiments

• Presenting findings internally and externally

• Writing up publications

• Supporting other lab members and facilitating training

• Participating in the Postdoctoral Fellow community, and training activities

About You:

This is an exciting opportunity to use cutting-edge gene editing technologies at scale to find new ways to tackle drug resistance.

You have completed a PhD or postdoc in the field of cancer biology, gene editing, genetics, or single-cell sequencing approaches. This role will involve working in a laboratory using a variety of molecular biology techniques to generate high-quality data for publication, requires analytical skills, and coordination with a multidisciplinary team. You will have an interest in cancer biology, drug resistance, gene editing or single-cell RNA sequencing, and proven experience in using CRISPR technologies, screening, cell culture, flow cytometry, and molecular biology techniques such as PCR, cloning, lentivirus generation and next-generation sequencing. You will join a diverse and dynamic team environment.

Essential Skills:

• PhD in a biological science or on track to be awarded your PhD within 6 months of starting the role.

• Proven track record of scientific productivity from datasets, publications, pre-prints, reviews or resources.

• Experience in mammalian cell culture.

• Experience in performing single-cell RNA seq. or analysis of single-cell RNA seq. datasets.

• Experience with molecular biology techniques, such as PCR and cloning.

• Experience in preparing libraries for next-generation sequencing.

• Ability to keep good scientific records.

• Experience in bioinformatics and programming languages, such as Python or R.

• Experience in gene editing.

• Proven ability to work effectively within a team.

• Ability to work independently and organise workload.

• Demonstrable attention to detail.

• Demonstrated ability to adapt to regularly changing priorities and workloads.

• Ability to communicate ideas and results effectively to diverse stakeholders through discussion, talks, and publications.

• Ability to maintain supportive relationships, respecting diversity and cultural differences.

• Promote a positive, safe and efficient working environment.

• Take ownership of work, demonstrating pride, adaptability and accountability for achieving results.

• Uphold the highest ethical and scientific standards.

Other Information:

For further information, please see role profile.

Salary per annum: (dependent upon skills and experience): £38,000-£49,156

Application Process:

Please submit your CV and a cover letter detailing your research experience, interest in the focus area, and future aspirations, and how you meet the criteria set out above.

Closing Date: 27th January 2026

Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:

We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.

We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.

Our Benefits:

We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.

Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018.  The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.

About Us

Life at the Sanger Institute is unique. We are tackling some of the most difficult challenges in genomic research. Our people are shaping the future by delivering life-changing science with the reach, scale, and creativity to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges. We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world.

Benefits

We offer an attractive benefits package at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. We appreciate the importance of achieving work-life balance and support this with a number of family and carer-friendly policies. Plus a flexible working policy for those who may wish to amend their working pattern or arrangement.

Visa Sponsorship

Each year, the Wellcome Sanger Institute welcomes researchers from around the world to the Genome Campus to collaborate and drive cutting-edge science. Whether you're joining as faculty, a postdoc, or a visitor, our dedicated International Team offers expert guidance and support throughout your journey, promoting the Institute’s global and collaborative ethos.