Postdoctoral Fellow – Hill lab

TN United Kingdom; London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to explore cell fate decisions using human embryonic stem cells. This role involves leading innovative research in a collaborative environment, utilizing advanced techniques like live imaging and multiomics. You'll have the opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking discoveries in developmental biology while benefiting from a supportive culture that values diversity and inclusion. Join a team that fosters creativity and excellence, and make a significant impact on human health through pioneering research.

Benefits

28 days annual leave

Generous pension scheme

Childcare support

Gym discounts

Healthcare plans

Mental health support

Occupational health services

Social events

Bike schemes

Training and mentoring

Qualifications

• PhD in biological science with a strong publication record.
• Experience with embryonic stem cells and advanced imaging techniques.

Responsibilities

• Lead research projects on cell fate decisions in human embryonic stem cells.
• Collaborate with team members and mentor PhD students.

Skills

Practical experience with embryonic stem cells

Expertise in differentiating embryonic stem cells

Advanced live imaging

Molecular biology techniques

Omics techniques and bioinformatics

Signal transduction research

Organisational skills

Collaborative work

Education

PhD in a relevant biological science

Job description

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Reporting to: Caroline Hill, Head of Developmental Signalling Laboratory

Contact term: This is a full-time, fixed term [4 years] position on Crick terms and conditions of employment.

About Us

The Francis Crick Institute is Europe’s largest biomedical research institute under one roof. Our world-class scientists and staff collaborate on vital research to help prevent, diagnose, and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions.

The Crick is a place for collaboration, innovation, and exploration across many disciplines. A space where the brightest minds can pursue big and bold ideas and discover answers to crucial scientific questions. We support them in a dynamic environment which fosters excellence with state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting-edge facilities, and a creative and curious culture. We’ve removed traditional boundaries of departments, divisions, and disciplines and instead have an open approach that supports every researcher. This gives us the freedom to collaborate and carry out high-quality, pioneering research. Creating a space for discovery without boundaries helps us to turn our science into benefits for human health and the economy.

The Research Group

The Developmental Signalling Laboratory headed by Caroline Hill focuses on cell signalling in early vertebrate development and disease. Their work seeks to understand how TGF-β family signalling pathways function normally in early vertebrate development and in adult untransformed cells, and how these pathways are perturbed in disease, particularly in cancer and Marfan-related syndromes. Work in the Hill laboratory combines early vertebrate developmental systems (zebrafish embryos), model tissue culture systems (human and mouse ES cell/iPS cell models), and mouse cancer models, employing methodologies including developmental and cell biology, cancer biology, next-generation sequencing, and computational modelling. The group encourages creative and independent thinking and promotes excellent training and mentoring. The group currently comprises ten members – five postdocs, two PhD students, a clinical fellow, a master’s student, and a senior laboratory research scientist.

The Project

Recent work in the lab has shown that mesoderm and endoderm specification in zebrafish embryos involves the interplay of Nodal and Fgf/Erk signalling pathways. The distribution of endodermal progenitors results from a stochastic process where sustained Nodal signalling provides a competency window for switching bipotential progenitors to an endodermal fate. This switching appears stochastic and is inhibited by Fgf/Erk signalling. Cells that do not switch to endoderm differentiate into mesoderm. The hypothesis is that short windows of Erk inactivity govern the switch to endodermal fate, occurring during mitosis as a phenomenon called mitotic erasure.

We aim to investigate whether a similar mechanism controls cell fate decisions between mesoderm and definitive endoderm in humans, and if not, how this process is regulated. To do this, we seek a highly motivated postdoc with proven research abilities and an excellent publication record.

The project will utilize human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) differentiated into 2D and 3D gastruloids. We will multiplex our novel Erk biosensor with live cell fate reporters to explore Erk signalling's role in fate decisions. Additionally, we will employ multiomics techniques such as scRNA-seq and scATAC-seq, along with whole genome CRISPR screening, to uncover mechanisms behind mesoderm and endoderm specification in humans.

Postdoctoral Fellows at the Crick lead their projects, contribute collaboratively, and may mentor PhD students. The ability to work well in a team is essential.

Key experience and competencies

The candidate should embody the Crick values:

Bold; Imaginative; Open; Dynamic; Collegial

• PhD in a relevant biological science
• Practical experience with embryonic stem cells
• Expertise in differentiating embryonic stem cells into various tissue types as 2D and 3D gastruloids
• Experience in advanced live imaging
• Proficiency in molecular biology techniques
• Strong publication record
• Experience presenting at scientific meetings
• Good organisational skills and record-keeping
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Experience with ‘omics techniques and bioinformatics
• Background in signal transduction research

About Working at the Crick…

Our values

Everyone at the Crick plays a vital role in advancing our mission and culture. We are bold, making space for creative and innovative ideas. We are open, highly collaborative and visible. We are collegial, respectful and supportive.

We believe diversity and inclusion are key to innovation. We are committed to a workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and identities. You will be asked if you wish to apply under the Disability Confident scheme, and reasonable adjustments will be made if needed. For application assistance, contact us via email.

To learn more about life at the Crick, click here.

What will you receive?

We offer extensive benefits including:

Visas: Sponsorship for UK work eligibility

Generous Leave: 28 days annual leave plus additional days over Christmas and bank holidays

Pension Scheme: Defined contribution with up to 16% employer contributions

Additional health and wellness benefits including GP services, occupational health, mental health support, eye care vouchers, and healthcare plans.

Work-Life Balance: Childcare support, leave purchase options, social events, gym discounts, bike schemes, and social spaces.

Development & Recognition: Training, mentoring, and a skills-based pay structure.