Senior Research Associate – 1076-22

View All Vacancies Biomedical & Life Sciences
Salary:  

£36,386 to £42,155

Closing Date:  

Monday 21 November 2022

Interview Date:  

To be confirmed

Reference:  

1076-22

Postdoctoral Research Associate: DNA damage-induced innate immunity in bladder cancer

We are looking for a highly motivated and creative individual to join us as a post-doctoral researcher within the group of Dr Leonie Unterholzner in the Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences at Lancaster University, to investigate the innate immune response during chemo- and radiotherapy in bladder cancer. 

Our lab is interested in how DNA sensors detect cytosolic DNA and nuclear DNA damage in human epithelial cells (Dunphy et al., Mol Cell, 2018; Almine et al., Nat Comms, 2017). This CRUK-funded position is part of a collaboration between the Unterholzner lab at Lancaster University and Prof Ananya Choudhury at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and the Division of Cancer Sciences University of Manchester. In this project, we will investigate the molecular mechanisms that govern the detection of DNA damage induced by radio- and chemotherapy by the innate immune signalling hub STING, and the subsequent innate immune signalling profiles which may have pro- or anti-tumour functions.

Candidate should have a PhD in a relevant field (or be close to completion), a background in cell culture and molecular/cell biology techniques, and an interest in innate immune signalling and cancer. Experience in gene targeting, immunohistochemistry, transcriptomics or protein-protein interaction analysis would be an advantage. We are looking for a highly motivated individual with excellent communication skills, the capacity to work collaboratively in a team and the ability to solve problems creatively.  

This is a fixed term position for a period of 34 months.   

The Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, within the Faculty of Health and Medicine at Lancaster University, is a rapidly growing Division whose research effort is directed towards understanding basic cellular and physiological mechanisms that underpin disease states. It provides a friendly research environment that strongly supports the individual needs of each employee and which actively promotes a healthy work-life balance. The Faculty is committed to family-friendly and flexible working policies and has held a Silver Athena SWAN award since 2014 in recognition of its good employment practice undertaken to address gender equality in higher education and research.

Informal enquiries are welcome. Please contact Dr Leonie Unterholzner: [email protected].

We welcome applications from people in all diversity groups and are happy to consider flexible working requests.

Further details:
Please note: Unless specified otherwise in the advert wording, all advertised roles are UK based.


The University provides an environment that strongly
supports the individual needs of each employee, whilst promoting the importance
of wellbeing for all our colleagues. We have a range of support networks available for our employees, and more information on these can be found on the ‘Working at Lancaster’ information page.
 
We are committed to family-friendly and flexible
working policies on an individual basis. The University recognises and
celebrates good employment practice undertaken to address all inequality in
higher education.
 
We warmly welcome applicants from all sections of the
community regardless of their age, religion, gender identity or expression,
race, disability or sexual orientation, and are committed to promoting
diversity, and equality of opportunity.