Research Associate (Philpott lab) – Oncogenic Transcriptional Regulation in the Paediatric Cancer Neuroblastoma at University of Cambridge

Neuroblastoma is a devastating paediatric cancer of the peripheral nervous system that causes 15% of all children’s cancer deaths in the UK each year. Neuroblastoma arises from neuroblasts that fail to complete their normal developmental programme but are instead locked in a state of enhanced proliferation and inhibited differentiation. The goal of the Philpott lab is to exploit an understanding of normal neuroblast developmental control to restart differentiation in neuroblastoma cells by targeting a key transcriptional network both genetically and with drugs.

We are looking for a highly motivated post-doctoral scientist to join our collaborative research team to probe the molecular regulation of transcriptional networks that control proliferation versus differentiation of neuroblastoma cells. Ongoing projects are interrogating the transcriptional mechanism of action of inhibitors and drugs that can drive neuroblastoma tumour differentiation, with the aim of developing new therapeutic approaches for this terrible disease. The role may include genome-wide analysis of transcription factor binding and activation using ChIPseq, RNAseq and ATACseq techniques, CRISPR screening in neuroblastoma cell lines, as well as other molecular and cellular analyses to dissect neuroblastoma cell behaviour. The role holder will collaborate with Dr Jason Carroll (CRUK Cambridge Institute) who has extensive experience in genome wide analyses and CRISPR screening, and we will provide excellent infrastructure and bioinformatics support. The role holder may also take an active part in our collaboration with Dr Louis Chesler (The Institute of Cancer Research, London) and Prof Suzanne Turner (Pathology Dept, Cambridge) who use mouse models of neuroblastoma to test drugs to drive neuroblastoma differentiation.

Our group is housed in the Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, a world-leading centre for stem cell research with the mission to transform human health through a deep understanding of stem cell biology (https://www.stemcells.cam.ac.uk/).

Please contact Prof. Anna Philpott (ap113@cam.ac.uk) with any informal enquiries.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 30 September 2024 in the first instance.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click on the apply button above.

Please ensure that you upload a covering letter and a CV in the Upload section of the online application. The covering letter should outline how you match the criteria for the post and why you are applying for this role. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application. 

Please include details of your referees, including email address and phone number, one of which must be your most recent line manager.

The closing date for applications is: 30th August 2023 

The interview date for the role is: To be confirmed

Please quote reference PS37882 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

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