Technical Specialist- Neurodegenerative Disease Spatial Transcriptomics

• locations
• Hinxton, Cambridgeshire

• time type
• Full time

• posted on
• Posted Today

• job requisition id
• JR103495

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 seeking a Technical Specialist to join the Bayraktar lab at the Wellcome Sanger Institute to generate large-scale single nucleus transcriptomic datasets of neurodegenerative diseases. Supported by Open Targets, the technical specialist will coordinate wet-lab experiments for large-scale single nucleus RNA-sequencing of patient tissue samples. The role can subsequently expand to supervise and coordinate Xenium spatial transcriptomic data generation in the project. This position is for 2 years fixed term.

About Us:

The Bayraktar lab uses spatial and single cell transcriptomics to discover the biology of human brain disorders. The team has generated large-scale single cell and spatial multiomic atlases of human brain diseases (1,2) and other pathologies (3), with deep experience in spatial transcriptomic data generation and analysis (4,5).

Relevant Papers of the Group:

• De Jong, G. et al. A spatiotemporal cancer cell trajectory underlies glioblastoma heterogeneity. bioRxiv 2025.05.13.653495 (2025).

• Saraswat, M. et al. Decoding Plasticity Regulators and Transition Trajectories in Glioblastoma with Single-cell Multiomics.

  bioRxiv2025.05.13.653733 (2025).

• Lee, J. T. H. et al. Integrated histopathology, spatial and single cell transcriptomics resolve cellular drivers of early and late alveolar damage in COVID-19.

  Nat Commun16, 1979 (2025).

• Kleshchevnikov, V. et al. Cell2location maps fine-grained cell types in spatial transcriptomics.

  Nat Biotechnol40, 661–671 (2022).

• Li, T. et al. WebAtlas pipeline for integrated single-cell and spatial transcriptomic data.

  Nat Methods22, 3–5 (2025).

What you'll be doing:

You will join a new project to create comparative cell atlases of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). You will work with a close group of wet and dry lab collaborators to generate single nucleus transcriptomics datasets from brain tissue over 200 patients. Your role will initially focus on tissue handling and single nucleus transcriptomics data generation. The role can subsequently expand to supervise and coordinate spatial transcriptomic data generation in the project, with support from line manager.

About You:

This role would be an excellent fit for a wet lab scientist interested in single cell or spatial omics and neurodegeneration, with a clear career progression path. Experience in single cell/spatial omics and tissue handling is desirable, but not required and training will be provided.

This project is part of a broader programme of work also including cellular screening led by Andrew Bassett’s team and collaborators across Oxford, Cambridge and London, and forms part of the Open Targets collaboration between academic and industrial partners to identify new drug targets for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease.

Essential Skills:

• MSc (or equivalent experience) in a biological science

• Experience working within a laboratory environment

• Prior experience or knowledge of tissue processing and molecular biology

• Ability to follow instructions and protocols accurately & efficiently

• Strict adherence to SOPs and attention to detail when performing routine tasks

• Ability to test, implement, and troubleshoot new techniques and protocols

• Proven ability to work effectively within a team

• Excellent communication skills

• Ability to receive and give feedback

• Good organisational skills and record keeping

• A team player who enjoys working with others in a friendly and collegiate manner

Other information

For further information, please see role profile.

Salary per annum (dependent upon skills and experience): £40,523-£48,143

Application Process:

Please apply with your CV and a Cover letter outlining how you meet the criteria set out above.

Closing Date: 8th February 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.