Postdoc: Oncolytic Clostridia for Prostate Cancer

The Open University UK; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 41,000; Part time

Job summary

The Open University is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Milton Keynes to advance oncolytic Clostridia as prostate cancer therapeutics. The role is a 0.5 FTE fixed-term contract for 20 months, with emphasis on cancer biology and molecular microbiology techniques in a collaborative, international setting.

We welcome candidates with a strong publication record and experience in anaerobic bacteria, molecular biology, and preclinical cancer research.

Qualifications

• PhD in molecular microbiology, cancer biology, molecular biology or related field.

Responsibilities

• Maintain cultures of cancer cells.
• Generate, purify and quantify spores of Clostridium spp.
• Optimise heterologous expression of therapeutic proteins in Clostridium.
• Determine anticancer activity of Clostridium spp. against prostate cancers using in vitro techniques.
• Handle shipping of materials to/from international collaborators.
• Undertake ex vivo analysis of cancer samples.
• Interpret and analyse data from the project.
• Author papers and publish results in peer reviewed journals.
• Be active in AiM Lab meetings and supervise junior members.
• Provide updates at meetings with collaborators.

Skills

Molecular biology techniques

Cancer biology

Culturing cancer cells

Handling anaerobes

Anticancer therapeutics with microbes

PCR

Molecular cloning

Western blot

Scientific communication

Workload planning

Education

PhD in molecular microbiology

Job description

The Open University is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Milton Keynes to advance oncolytic Clostridia as prostate cancer therapeutics. The role is a 0.5 FTE fixed-term contract for 20 months, with emphasis on cancer biology and molecular microbiology techniques in a collaborative, international setting.

We welcome candidates with a strong publication record and experience in anaerobic bacteria, molecular biology, and preclinical cancer research.