Research Fellow in Biochemistry and Cell Biology

University of Leeds; Leeds; On-site; GBP 35,000 - GBP 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university in the UK seeks a talented postdoctoral researcher for an exciting opportunity to join an interdisciplinary team investigating amyloid polymorphism related to diseases such as type-2 diabetes and Parkinson's. The candidate should have a PhD close to completion in biochemistry or related fields, with substantial experience in biochemical methods and fluorescence techniques. This position offers competitive benefits including generous holiday, pension options, and access to wellness facilities.

Benefits

26 days holiday plus approx. 16 Bank Holidays

Generous pension scheme

Discounted gym membership

Access to childcare and shopping discounts

Qualifications

• Extensive experience using biochemical, biophysical, and cell biological methods.
• Close to completing a PhD in a relevant field.

Responsibilities

• Investigate how proteins aggregate into amyloid fibrils.
• Develop approaches to track fibril polymorphism.
• Analyze fibrils extracted from murine and patient samples.

Skills

Biochemistry

Biophysics

Cell Biology

Education

PhD in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Cell Biology or related discipline

Tools

Fluorescence methods

Job description

Overview

This role will be based on the university campus. We are also open to discussing flexible working arrangements.

Research focus

Understanding and Controlling Amyloid Polymorphism: From Test Tube to Tissue

Responsibilities

• We are looking for an outstanding research fellow to join our interdisciplinary team investigating how proteins aggregate into amyloid fibrils, and how fibrils with different structures perturb cellular function. This 6-year Wellcome Discovery award will involve three post-doctoral fellows and two PhD students, who will form an integrated team combining biochemical, biophysical, cell biological and structural methods (cryoEM and cryoET) with the goal of transforming our understanding of amyloid polymorphism in vitro, in cells, and in mouse models and human tissue.
• The project will focus on IAPP involved in type-2 diabetes and a-synuclein in Parkinson’s disease.
• For this position we are seeking a talented postdoctoral researcher with expertise in biochemistry and cell biology, to explore how small molecules, metabolites and differences in cellular conditions influence the mechanism of amyloid assembly and alter the structures of fibrils formed.
• Using fluorescence methods, you will develop approaches to track fibril polymorphism and how it changes with time in test tubes, in cells and in human/murine tissue.
• You will also investigate fibrils extracted from murine and patient samples and to determine the role of different fibril types in causing cellular dysfunction and disease.
• You will work closely with two other postdoctoral fellows funded on the grant who bring expertise in biophysical analysis of amyloid assembly and structural methods (cryoEM/ET).
• You will be based in the laboratories of Professors Sheena Radford and Neil Ranson, and work closely with other members of our amyloid team.

Qualifications

• For this position you should have (or be close to completing) a PhD in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Cell Biology or a related discipline, and extensive experience of using biochemical, biophysical and cell biological methods to elucidate biological mechanisms involving protein assembly.

Sponsorship and visa information

Salary Requirements of the Skilled Worker Visa Route

Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa .

For research and academic posts, we will consider eligibility under the Global Talent visa. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/global-talent .

What we offer in return

• 26 days holiday plus approx. 16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme plus life assurance – The University contributes 14.5% of salary.
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.
• And much more!

Contact

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact: