Research Assistant/Research Associate in Engineered Protein Pores for Mitochondrial DNA Delivery

University of Cambridge; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Cambridge's Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit invites applications for a post-doctoral Research Associate to join Prof. Edmund Kunji's group in Cambridge.

This role works on engineered protein pores to deliver DNA into mitochondria as part of ARIA Precision Mitochondria, combining membrane biology, synthetic biology and genetics to advance mitochondrial gene delivery. Applicants should hold, or be close to obtaining, a PhD and have strong experience in

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant biological discipline.
• Experience in mitochondrial, cell, RNA/DNA or molecular biology, biochemistry, membrane protein biology.
• Experience in mammalian cell culture and membrane protein complex assembly.
• Experience in mitochondrial isolation/fractionation, bioenergetics, sequencing or single-cell methods, flow cytometry, RNA/DNA biology or quantitative analysis would be highly advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the Engineered protein pores for delivering DNA into mitochondria project within ARIA Precision Mitochondria.
• Design and screen pores to thread DNA across mitochondrial membranes and into the matrix.
• Integrate molecular and functional datasets and collaborate with ARIA partners to meet programme milestones.
• Support delivery, expression tracking with reporters, and related experimental workflows.

Skills

Mitochondrial biology

Cell biology

Molecular biology

Biochemistry

Membrane protein biology

Flow cytometry

Single-cell methods

RNA/DNA analysis

Education

PhD in a relevant biological discipline

Tools

Sequencing

Flow cytometry

Single-cell methods

Job description

The Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit (MRC MBU), University of Cambridge wishes to appoint a post-doctoral Research Associate to join the research group of Prof. Edmund Kunji at the MRC MBU.

A world-renowned centre for research, the MRC MBU is a vibrant community focused on the involvement of mitochondria and their dysfunction in an ever-increasing range of human diseases. Additional information can be found at www.mrc-mbu.cam.ac.uk.

The postholder will contribute to the Engineered protein pores for delivering DNA into mitochondria project, funded through the ARIA Precision Mitochondria initiative, aimed at developing and rigorously testing new technologies for the delivery and functional use of genetic material in mitochondria. Together with Prof Aleksandra Filipovska (University of Western Australia) and Prof Oliver Rackham (Curtin University) we aim to build new ways to get DNA into mitochondria by utilising custom protein "pores". Bringing together expertise in membrane transport, synthetic biology, and mitochondrial genetics, we will design and screen these pores to thread DNA from the cytoplasm, across both mitochondrial membranes, into the matrix. We will draw on a range of natural channel proteins and our own cutting-edge protein engineering capability. We will also tune the imported genes to be read efficiently once inside the mitochondria, tracking delivery and expression with molecular and fluorescent reporters. If it works, this work would lay the delivery-and-expression groundwork for the programme's longer-term goal: writing engineered sequences into the mitochondrial genome and keeping them there stably. The role will also integrate molecular and functional datasets to support programme milestones and work closely with collaborators across the ARIA Precision Mitochondria programme.

Candidates should hold, or be close to obtaining, a PhD in a relevant biological discipline and have strong experience in mitochondrial, cell, RNA/DNA or molecular biology, biochemistry, membrane protein biology, or related areas. Experience in mammalian cell culture and membrane protein complex assembly is important. Experience in mitochondrial isolation/fractionation, bioenergetics, sequencing or single-cell methods, flow cytometry, RNA/DNA biology or quantitative analysis would be highly advantageous.

Informal enquiries about this position should be directed to Professor Edmund Kunj ([e-mail]).

The University of Cambridge is committed, in its pursuit of academic and research excellence, to a pro-active and inclusive approach to equality, which supports and encourages all under-represented groups, promotes an inclusive culture, and values diversity. The MBU is part of the School of Clinical Medicine, which holds an Athena Swan Silver Award and supports an Academic Women's Forum. The University particularly encourages women and candidates from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds to apply.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 30 November 2029 in the first instance.

Applicants must have (or be close to obtaining) a PhD.

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will initially be appointed as a Research Assistant (Grade 5, Point 38 £34,610) moving to Research Associate (Grade 7) upon confirmation of your PhD award.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.