View Vacancy -- MRC Postdoctoral Research Scientist LMS 2730

View Vacancy -- MRC Postdoctoral Research Scientist LMS 2730

Open Date

18/11/2025, 09:30

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 allowance £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 advanced single-molecule biophysics, protein biochemistry, chromatin biology, and translational pharmacology to deliver key mechanistic and therapeutic insights.

The postholder will employ optical tweezers combined with fluorescence imaging to directly visualise nucleic acid sensor interactions with DNA and RNA substrates under applied force. These real-time, quantitative analyses will reveal how sensors such as cGAS, AIM2, RIG-I, MDA5, and TLR9 are modulated by nucleic acid structure, chromatin context, and post-translational modifications.

Alongside this, the postdoc will take a leading role in the design and development of biochemical assays for high-throughput drug screening. In collaboration with the LMS/Imperial Drug Discovery Hub (DDHub), they will execute compound screens to identify inhibitors, activators, and degraders of key nucleic acid sensors, followed by mechanistic validation using biophysical and biochemical platforms. This position sits at the interface of fundamental research and therapeutic discovery.

M ain duties / key responsibilities:

• Design and execute molecular cloning, protein expression, and purification strategies for recombinant nucleic acid sensors
• Plan and conduct optical tweezer-based single-molecule assays to characterise DNA/RNA sensor dynamics
• Develop and optimise in vitro assays (e.g. fluorescence-based, enzymatic, binding) for use in compound screening
• Work with DDHub to perform high-throughput screening for small-molecule modulators
• Analyse screening data and characterise compound hits using biochemical, biophysical, and structural techniques
• Collaborate with other scientists to validate compounds in cellular models of senescence and ageing
• 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 Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or Biophysics
• Experience using Lumicks C-Trap-optical tweezers

Desirable:

• Training in drug discovery or assay development

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

Essential:

• Good written communication skills in English
• Experience in protein expression and purification of recombinant proteins
• Experience in developing and executing quantitative biochemical assays
• Experience in the use of single-molecule techniques (specifically- Lumicks C-Trap-optical tweezers)
• Track record of publishing scientific results in peer-reviewed journals
• Experience with high-throughput screening

Desirable:

• Background in chromatin biochemistry or post-translational modification studies

Knowledge and experience (will be assessed from the application and at the interview):

Essential:

• Understanding of nucleic acid-protein interactions, particularly as relevant to the design and interpretation of single-molecule biophysical experiments
• Proficiency in data analysis from biochemical or biophysical experiments
• Knowledge of assay development for small-molecule screening

Desirable:

• Familiarity with cGAS-STING and related pathways
• Exposure to structural prediction tools (e.g. AlphaFold)

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

Essential:

• Excellent laboratory skills
• Excellent organisational skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• 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 2730.

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, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview.

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.