Biomedical & Life Sciences Location: Bailrigg, Lancaster, UK Salary: £38,205 to £44,263 full time, indefinite with end date Closing Date: Sunday 15 September 2024 Interview Date: To be confirmed Reference: 0969-24
Postdoctoral research assistant: Optimisation and Preclinical Development of a novel PROTAC: Cancer Cell Biology and Therapeutic Development
We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join our team on an exciting project to test and develop a novel proteolysis-targeting chimaera (PROTAC) therapeutic the lab has developed and patented, in models of triple-negative breast cancer. This is a 21-month fixed-term position in the first instance, with a further 12-month extension agreed in principal with funder. The project is funded by a North West Cancer Research grant, awarded to Dr Andrew Fielding in the Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences at Lancaster University and Dr Sam Butterworth in the Division of Pharmacy & Optometry at The University of Manchester. The grant is titled “Optimisation and pre-clinical development of a KIFC1-PROTAC as a triple-negative breast cancer therapeutic”.
The researcher will work in parallel with our medicinal chemistry collaborators, the Butterworth group, firstly to test the potency of panels of modified PROTACs in terms of target degradation and cancer-cell specific survival. This will lead to an optimised molecule that will then be taken forward for more in-depth mechanistic studies, including examining cell phenotypes and proteomic analysis, as well as testing efficacy across panels of cancer cell lines. Initial pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies will also be undertaken by a CRO at this stage. Following successful identification of an optimised molecule, the final year of the project, for which funding is agreed in principle, will test our molecule in an in vivo model of triple- negative breast cancer in collaboration with Professor Kaye Williams' group at The University of Manchester.
Research will be supported by cutting-edge facilities in the Department of Biomedical and Life Sciences - Lancaster University, including our Bioimaging Facility.
Candidate requirements:
• A PhD awarded (or soon to be awarded) in a relevant field.
• A strong background in cell and molecular biology.
• Experience with mammalian cell culture.
• An interest in targeted protein degradation and/or cancer drug discovery would be advantageous.
• Ability to solve problems creatively and plan and work independently, but also work in and/or manage a team when required.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both for communicating with collaborators, the scientific community and to various audiences in the community as a part of outreach activities.
Our labs in the Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences constitute part of a large and vibrant cancer research grouping. The division is a friendly research environment that strongly supports the individual needs of each employee and which actively promotes a healthy work-life balance.
The Faculty of Health and Medicine is committed to family-friendly and flexible working policies. For example, we are willing to consider flexible working for this post. The Faculty 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.
Lancaster University is in the top 10 in The Complete University Guide 2025, where our Biomedical Sciences department has excelled even further, being ranked 3rd in the UK. The Results of REF2021 show that in our Faculty of Health and Medicine, 100% of our research environment was rated 'world- leading' and 91% of research rated 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent'.
Informal enquiries are welcome and encouraged. Please contact Dr Andrew Fielding ([email protected]) or Dr Amanda Thomaz ([email protected]) for more information.
We welcome applications from people in all diversity groups.
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Further details:Please note: unless specified otherwise in the advert, all advertised roles are UK based.
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