Postdoctoral Scientist - Structural Studies - Dr Suyang Zhang - LMB 3065

1000scholars; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

The MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, United Kingdom seeks a Postdoctoral Scientist to join Dr Suyang Zhang's group and investigate the mechanism of co-transcriptional splicing. This three-year training position is ideal for recent PhD graduates seeking to broaden their research horizons in a world-class institute.

You will work with biochemical and structural approaches, with emphasis on cryo-EM and in vitro reconstitution, developing independent research skills and strong

Qualifications

• PhD in biological sciences or within 6 months of completion.
• Strong background in structural biology or biochemistry.
• Experience in protein purification and cryo-EM desirable.
• Independent researcher with good teamwork and communication.

Responsibilities

• Join Dr Suyang Zhang's group to investigate co-transcriptional splicing mechanisms using biochemical and structural approaches.
• Contribute to cryo-EM data collection/analysis and in vitro reconstitution.
• Collaborate with team members and contribute to high-quality publications.

Skills

Structural biology

Biochemistry

Protein purification

Independent working

Communication skills

Education

PhD in Biological sciences

Tools

Cryo-EM

Job description

Postdoctoral Scientist - Structural Studies - Dr Suyang Zhang - LMB 3065

MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

Cambridge, United Kingdom

GBP 42,694 per year

We are recruiting a Postdoctoral Researcher to join Dr Suyang Zhang's group to investigate the mechanism of co-transcriptional splicing.

This is a three-year training and development position suitable for you if you have recently completed your doctoral studies, or you are looking to move into a new research discipline and/or need to further develop your research skills. Working with our world class scientists you will be working in an Institute renowned for its excellent scientific facilities and high-quality research.

The project aims to understand the mechanism of crosstalk between the transcription and splicing machineries using a combined biochemical and structural approach with a focus on cryo-EM and in vitro reconstitution.

In eukaryotes, RNA synthesis and splicing are intricately coupled to each other to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of pre-mRNA processing. Despite advances in our understanding of transcription and splicing as two separate processes, the molecular mechanisms underlying co-transcriptional splicing in a cellular context remain to be elucidated. We have defined the structural basis for the co-transcriptional recruitment of U1 snRNP (Science 2021, Nature comms 2025), which provided a model of how distant intron ends can be functionally paired for splicing. Additionally, we have discovered a regulatory mechanism that modulates Pol II elongation rate, shedding light on how Pol II speed may change across introns and exons (NSMB 2025).

The successful candidate should have a PhD in biological sciences or due to complete PhD within 6 months, and a strong background in structural biology or biochemistry. Experience in protein purification and cryo-EM are desirable. The candidate should have worked independently and have good communication skills for teamwork.

Deadline 7 December

United Kingdom

Biochemistry

Biology

Biotechnology and Genetics

Government/Public Sector

On-site

Postdoc

MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology