Research Fellow (Staff Scientist)

About us

The UCL Cancer Institute is a world-leading centre for cancer research at University College London, bringing together over 400 scientists and 150 PhD students dedicated to advancing the understanding and treatment of cancer. As part of the CRUK City of London Centre, the Institute collaborates with leading research organisations including Barts, King's College London, and the Francis Crick Institute to drive innovation in cancer research. (ucl.ac.uk)

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Research Fellow (Staff Scietist) to join Bayraktar lab on 2D/3D spatial and single cell transcriptomic analysis of cancer-nervous system interactions. Professor Omer Bayraktar is a newly appointed group leader at the UCL Cancer Institute and his team explores brain cellular diversity in the health and disease using cell atlassing technologies. The Bayraktar lab is known for developing computational tools for spatial transcriptomics and for creating multiomic atlases of human brain disorders spanning brain cancer, autism and neurodegeneration.

About the role

The position is part of a Cancer Grand Challenge Project (Team InteroCANCEption) in Cancer Neuroscience (Interocanception). An international consortium across 9 labs, this project has the ambitious goal to harness the nervous system to halt tumour progression. To this end, Bayraktar team and collaborators are characterising cancer-nervous system interactions in genetically engineered mouse models and patient tumours using cutting-edge cell atlassing technologies.

Appointment at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be at Research Assistant Grade 6B, with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis.

Applications should include a CV and a Cover Letter: In the Cover Letter please provide evidence of the essential and desirable criteria in the Person Specification part of the Job Description. (By including a Cover Letter, you can leave blank the 'Why you have applied for this role' field in the application form, which is limited in the number of characters it will allow.)

The role is available for 2 years in the first instance with the possibility of extension.

About you

You will be a highly motivated researcher with a PhD, or equivalent experience, in neuroscience, biology, genetics, cancer biology, developmental biology or a related discipline. You will bring a strong background in neuroscience together with substantial hands-on laboratory experience in spatial transcriptomics, including both assay development and the application of imaging-based spatial omics technologies.

You will have experience working with tissue samples and cell culture systems, ideally including human or mouse iPSC differentiation, and will be confident using fluorescence microscopy and spatial transcriptomics approaches to generate high-quality data. Basic competency in the analysis of single-cell, spatial or imaging datasets using Python, together with experience managing sample and metadata records, will enable you to contribute effectively across the experimental workflow.

You will be an organised and collaborative scientist, capable of managing multiple priorities while working closely with experimental and computational colleagues. With excellent communication skills and the ability to contribute to reports, publications and presentations, you will thrive in a multidisciplinary research environment. Experience in molecular biology, tissue or organoid culture, viral work or gene editing would be advantageous.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

Please visit Rewards and benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We particularly encourage applications from candidates underrepresented in UCL’s workforce, including those from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled people, and – for Grade 9 and 10 roles – women.

Read more: UCL Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

Applicants should also familiarise themselves with UCL’s policies on: Prevention of Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy and Personal Relationships Policy