Postdoctoral Research Scientist - Brain Tumour Research

Corehr; Oxford; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in Oxford seeks a Postdoctoral Research Scientist to join the Pathania Laboratory. You will develop models of brain tumours, particularly ependymoma and AT/RT, to identify precision therapies and study tumour microenvironment interactions.

Reporting to Dr. Manav Pathania, you will supervise lab members, design independent studies, and contribute to grants and publications while collaborating across multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• PhD required or near completion in molecular biology, biochemistry, cancer research or related life science field.
• Demonstrated scientific independence and experience supervising or mentoring others.
• Strong laboratory skills and in vivo expertise; excellent communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct high-quality independent research across multiple projects.
• Supervise and train junior researchers in in vivo and in vitro techniques.

Skills

Scientific independence

Mentoring

Communication skills

In vivo expertise

Education

PhD/DPhil in molecular biology, biochemistry, cancer research or related life science field

Tools

Spatial omics

CRISPR screening

Job description

UK date and time: 12-September-2026 00:48

Postdoctoral Research Scientist - Brain Tumour Research

Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7DQ

We are seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Scientist to join the Pathania Laboratory at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. Working with Dr Manav Pathania, the postholder will contribute to the development of disease-representative models of brain tumours, with a particular focus on ependymoma and atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumours, to identify precision therapy opportunities, tumour-microenvironment interactions and mechanisms of treatment resistance.

We take a multidisciplinary approach, integrating in vivo models, primary and patient-derived cell lines, drug and CRISPR screening, cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, genomics and computational biology, to address fundamental questions underlying brain tumour biology. We rely on established collaborations with researchers locally and around the world and promote a cooperative and supportive research environment— encouraging independence, self-reliance and the development of synergistic, mutually beneficial interactions between lab members and a communal team spirit. We offer access to state-of-the‑art core facilities, and everything needed for ambitious projects to have a chance at success, as well as support for training and networking opportunities.

Reporting to Manav Pathania, the Postdoctoral Research Scientist recruited to this role will function as a senior member of the group working across multiple projects as well as supervising and mentoring other lab members to open up new avenues of research within the lab. They will focus on developing new models of ependymoma and atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumours, and on using these to identify new precision therapy opportunities, tractable microenvironmental interactions, and resistance mechanisms using approaches the lab has previously developed.

You will be responsible for designing and conducting high-quality independent research, analysing and presenting experimental data, and managing research activities across multiple projects. The role includes supervising and training junior researchers in in vivo and in vitro techniques. You will also contribute to new research ideas, grant applications and publications, and collaboration with colleagues across multidisciplinary research programmes.

It is essential that you hold, or are close to completing, a PhD/DPhil in molecular biology, biochemistry, cancer research or a related life science field, with experience in cancer research using in vivo models, primary cell lines and PDX models. Candidates should demonstrate scientific independence, experience supervising or mentoring others, strong laboratory and in vivo expertise, a first-author publication or pre‑print, and excellent research and communication skills. Experience in spatial or single‑cell omics, CRISPR screening, functional epigenomics, cancer immunology, functional genomics or human organoid research would be advantageous. Similarly, we are seeking a candidate with prior expertise in one or more of the below to complement their wet lab and animal work:

• Human organoid biology
• Spatial omics

This position is offered full time on a fixed term contract until 31 December 2029 and is funded by Ludwig.

Salary (£) : Research Grade 7: £39,424 - £47,779 with a discretionary range to £53,483 p.a. (pro rata). This is inclusive of a pensionable Oxford University Weighting of £1,730 per year (pro rata).