Postdoctoral Research Scientist

Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Season ticket loan

Parking on-site

Job summary

Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute in Glasgow invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Scientist specializing in mitochondrial biology. You will join CONTROL-MITO, testing new chemical‑genetic tools and leading mitochondrial phenotyping in engineered human cell lines within a collaborative ARIA-funded programme.

The role involves independent project work, collaboration with university partners, and opportunities for career development, training, and mentorship in a dynamic cancer

Qualifications

• PhD in mitochondrial/cell biology or closely related discipline.
• Hands-on experience of mammalian cell culture.
• Strong ability to work independently and manage experiments.
• Excellent communication and teamwork in multidisciplinary settings.

Responsibilities

• Measure mitochondrial bioenergetics and metabolism using respirometry and LC-MS.
• Investigate mitochondrial morphology and function with fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry.
• Monitor mitochondrial genome maintenance and expression in bioengineered cells.
• Collaborate with core facilities (Metabolomics, Imaging, Proteomics).
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to drive the Precision Mitochondria programme.
• Present at meetings, write publications, and supervise junior researchers and students.

Skills

Mammalian cell culture

Independent researcher

Excellent communication

Teamwork

Education

PhD in mitochondrial biology

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Scientist

Dr Tom MacVicar and Prof Laura Greaves

Mitochondrial biology

Salary: from £39,253 to £45,505 subject to experience, plus relocation allowance and visa costs if required.

Contract term: Fixed up to 6 years, subject to successful review at Year 3

The CRUK Scotland Institute is a cancer research institute, situated in Glasgow with approximately 250 researchers split across 30 research groups consisting of PIs, postdoctoral scientists, PhD students and scientific officers. It is one of Europe\'s leading cancer research centres, supporting cutting-edge work into the molecular mechanisms of cancer development. As well as core support from Cancer Research UK, the Institute also receives an additional third of its total income from external grants and industry collaborations. It has an excellent reputation for fundamental cancer research, including world-class mitochondria and metabolism studies.

Project outline

We are recruiting a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Scientist to join CONTROL-MITO, our team within the ARIA-funded Precision Mitochondria programme (https://aria.org.uk/opportunity-spaces/programmable-physiology/precision-mitochondria). CONTROL-MITO will build a chemical genetic toolkit to switch specific mitochondrial proteins on and off using small molecules, enabling the expression, maintenance and transfer of engineered mitochondrial DNA in vivo. Our interdisciplinary CONTROL-MITO team brings together groups from University of Edinburgh (Dr Andrew Wood), University of Dundee (Professor Alessio Ciulli, Dr Will Farnaby) and University of Glasgow (Professor Richard Hartley). You will be the team's mitochondrial biologist, based in our Glasgow mitochondrial biology hub. You will test the new chemical‑genetic tools and lead the mitochondrial phenotyping of bioengineered human cell lines.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Measure the effect of chemical probes on mitochondrial bioenergetics and metabolism by respirometry and LC-MS.
• Rigorous investigation of mitochondrial morphology, function and quality control in bioengineered cells using fluorescence confocal microscopy, flow cytometry and proteomic analysis.
• Monitor mitochondrial genome maintenance and expression in bioengineered cells.
• Collaborate with CRUK Scotland Institute core facilities including Metabolomics, Advanced Imaging and Proteomics.
• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams to help drive the Precision Mitochondria programme forward.
• Present at consortium meetings and ARIA creator meetings, write up results for publication, and help supervise junior researchers and students.

Essential criteria

• PhD in mitochondrial/cell biology, or a closely related discipline.
• Hands‑on experience of mammalian cell culture.
• Ability to work independently, manage experimental workflows, and proactively drive research progress.
• An open, rigorous and reproducible approach to science.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary environment.

Desirable criteria

• Familiarity with chemical genetic tools such as degron tags or chemically induced proximity systems.
• Experience of quantifying mitochondrial gene maintenance and expression.
• Experience of assays of mitochondrial quality control, including mitophagy reporters and the mitochondrial stress response.
• Experience of mass spectrometry metabolomics or stable isotope tracing.

For informal enquiries, please email Dr Tom MacVicar ([e-mail]).

Postdoc support

Postdocs are key members of our research community, and we offer them a range of opportunities to train and develop as researchers while they are with us:

• Exciting, innovative cancer research projects in state-of-the art labs
• A highly collaborative and interactive research environment
• Access to and training in keyadvanced technologies, for example imaging and in vivo modelling
• A mentor enabling scheme to aid personal and professional development
• A rich programme of scientific exchange throughseminars, workshops and meetings
• Support to makefellowship and small grant applications, including during their transition to their next position
• Guidance and mentoring to compete for an independent scientist position as well as a multitude of other career options, including in industry.
• A highly engagedpostdoc forum, providing peer support, training, careers advice and regular social events

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Our vision is to build and maintain a diverse and inclusive research culture based on our shared values of Innovate, Respect, Integrity, Teamwork and Excellence. These values, which underpin our behaviours and everything we do, allow all our people to realise their full potential. The diversity of our staff and students is also what makes the Institute such a vibrant place to work and advance discoveries in cancer research. Family friendly policies, our collaborative ethos, a focus on good mental health and well‑being and opportunities for all help to create an enjoyable and inclusive workplace where your voice matters.

Employee Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 40.5 days annual leave including bank holidays (FTE)
• Defined contribution pension scheme
• Free life assurance scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Additional maternity pay for 6 months at full salary
• Shared parental leave including up to 6 weeks paid at full salary
• Cycle to work scheme saving tax and NI on cycle purchase and spreading repayments over up to 12 months
• Access to employee benefit schemes with discounts on supermarkets, cinema, travel and much more.
• On‑site secure parking

Closing Date: 20th November 2026