Research Fellow in Human Embryo Development (110517-0525)

University of Warwick; Coventry; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

The University of Warwick is seeking a Research Fellow for a Wellcome-funded project examining chromosome mis-segregation in human embryos. Ideal candidates will have a PhD in relevant disciplines, excellent communication skills, and experience in techniques such as live cell imaging, contributing to crucial reproductive health research.

Benefits

Attractive pension scheme

30 days holiday plus Christmas closure

Excellent learning and development opportunities

Savings on a wide range of products and services

Generous parental leave policy

Onsite childcare facilities

Support for work/life balance

Qualifications

• Highly motivated and enthusiastic candidates.
• Outstanding academic track record required.
• Experience in mammalian embryology or cell biology methods preferred.

Responsibilities

• Apply molecular and cell biological techniques to study human embryo development.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across institutions.
• Uncover mechanisms leading to chromosomal abnormalities in early development.

Skills

Collaboration

Communication

Planning

Time Management

Education

PhD in cell, developmental or reproductive biology

Tools

Live Cell Imaging

Next Generation Sequencing

Job description

Research Fellow in Human Embryo Development (110517-0525)

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University of Warwick provided pay range

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About The Role

For informal enquiries, please contact Andrew McAinsh (Professor) [e-mail]

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join a Wellcome-funded project exploring the causes and consequences of chromosome mis-segregation in human embryos. These errors lead to mosaic aneuploidy, a major contributor to infertility and pregnancy loss.

This position builds on our recent discoveries that the first mitotic divisions in the human embryo are exceptionally error-prone (Currie et al., Nat Commun. 13:6755, 2022), and that aneuploidy rates can be reduced by modulating the cytoskeleton (Currie et al., BioRxiv, 2025.04.05.647367). This opens a potential therapeutic pathway to improve outcomes for patients undergoing fertility treatment.

You will be based at Warwick’s Centre for Early Life, working as part of a multidisciplinary team in close collaboration with the University of Edinburgh and the Centre for Reproductive Medicine (University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, NHS Trust). The project will involve applying molecular and cell biological techniques to uncover the mechanisms that lead to chromosomal abnormalities in early human development.

We offer a supportive, collaborative, and inclusive research environment, with bespoke career development plans designed to help every team member achieve their professional goals. We value open communication, shared success, and a strong team ethos.

This is an exciting opportunity for a postdoctoral researcher interested in developmental biology, reproductive health, and translational research with real-world clinical impact.

About You

Applicants must have, or will shortly obtain, a PhD in cell, developmental or reproductive biology. The successful candidate will be highly motivated and enthusiastic with an outstanding academic track record, good communication skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary collaborative team.

Applicants with experience in mammalian embryology and/or cell biology methods, including live cell imaging or next generation sequencing are particularly encouraged to apply.

You will be approachable and enthusiastic to help others, particularly PhD students. You will possess excellent planning and time management skills to ensure your research objectives are achieved effectively.

If you have not yet been awarded your PhD but are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant on level 5 of the University grade structure. Upon successful award of your PhD and evidence of this fact, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of the level 6 of the University grade structure.

For further information regarding the skills required for this role please see the personal specification section of the attached job description.

About The Department

Warwick Medical School has an excellent reputation for our distinctive portfolio of high-quality education programmes and for the excellence and global impact of our research.

The breadth of our interest and expertise is demonstrated through our dynamic and influential directorates: Warwick Applied Health (WAH), Warwick Clinical Trials Unit (WCTU), and Warwick Biomedical Sciences (BMS). Our Institute of Translational Medicine (ITM) works across the directorates, University and with external stakeholders to accelerate the delivery of practical human health benefits arising from research.

WMS offers academic education across several levels and is the UK leader for graduate entry medicine. Our portfolio of postgraduate programmes aims to provide excellent education and continued professional development for healthcare professionals across a number of areas, including advanced clinical and critical care practice, diabetes, leadership, medical education, interdisciplinary biomedical research, public health and health research. We have expanded our education portfolio to include two innovative undergraduate courses: MSci Integrated Natural Sciences and BSc Health and Medical Sciences. We also offer full and part time research degrees either at Warwick Medical School or in a clinical setting, encompassing PhDs, MD Doctor of Medicine, PhD by Published Work, and MSc by Research.

We foster a rich and inclusive education and research eco-system, underpinned by our core values which permeate everything we do: Integrity, Collaboration, Respect, Excellence, Innovation and Efficiency, and Courage.

The Medical School and University exist within a local, regional, national and international health and care diaspora with excellent inter-institutional links, partnerships and relationships. The connections stretch across academia, industry and the NHS, with a particular strength in our local health eco-system with our local NHS trusts. The strong and effective relationships that we have established over the past 25 years support our excellent teaching, research, innovation and broader educational and academic activities and enable new and existing activities to be undertaken to the highest of standards.

About The University

Born in the 60s with a mindset of boldness, imagination and collaboration, the University of Warwick is a world-leading research-intensive university with the highest academic and research standards. We’re one of the world’s top universities, ranked 67th in the world and 10th in the UK*, with 92% of our research assessed to be ‘world leading or internationally excellent’**.

You'll be joining a diverse, innovative and globally connected community committed to igniting real world progress. Here at Warwick, we offer you opportunities to follow your ambitions as long as you bring the energy and determination to succeed.

• QS World University Rankings 2024
• Research Excellence Framework 2021
  
  

To find out more about us visit our website.

How to Apply

CLOSING DATE: Wednesday 18th June 2025 at 23:55 (BST)

To apply, please click ‘Apply’ below and submit an application form by the closing date.

Please plan for any potential delays as you will not be able to submit an application form past this deadline (even if you opened the form at, say, 23:30).

You will have to attach a CV and a cover letter.

• Your CV should include your employment history (including your most recent employment), your education history, and any other relevant experience.
• Your cover letter should explain your motivations for applying to the role. It should also explain, using examples, how you meet each of the essential and desirable criteria detailed in the Job Description PDF document below. Please note that all essential criteria must be met by candidates who are invited to interview.
  
  

Please see here for guidance on writing a cover letter. We highly recommend using individual criteria as headers and explaining below, using examples, how you meet the criterion, though you are free to format the letter as you wish.

To streamline our hiring processes, we can only accept applications submitted via our official careers webpage, warwick-careers.tal.net.

• Interview Date: To be confirmed
• Start Date: As soon as possible
  
  

What we Offer

We will provide you with a great range of benefits, which include an attractive pension scheme, 30 days holiday plus Christmas closure, excellent learning and development opportunities, and savings on a wide range of products and services. We offer a generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy, and onsite childcare facilities.

We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer you access to flexible working, for more information click here.

We are proud to say that we are a Living Wage employer.

If you are considering relocating to the UK, read our Relocation Guide to find out more about what Warwick has to offer and what might be involved in the process.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Warwick is committedto building an organisation ofmutual respectanddignity, promoting awelcoming, diverse, and inclusive workingand learning environment. We recognise that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to berecognised, respected, and valued. Where possible, we go beyond legislation to provide a place where everyone can thrive, supporting all staff to achieve their full potential. We aspire to remove economic, social, and cultural barriers that may otherwise prevent people from succeeding.

We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation. To find out more about our social inclusion work at Warwick visit our webpageshere.

The University currently holds aRace Equality Charter Bronze Award,Athena Swan Sliver Awardand aDisability Smart Bronze Award.Further information on all of the University's Awards and Accreditations can be found here. The University of Warwick is also one of the six founder institutions of theEUTOPIA European University Alliance.

Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)

The University of Warwick is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those we work with.

In line with the DBS Code of Practice, the successful candidates for any roles involving regulated activity, will be subject to a DBS check at the appropriate level. The University will take all necessary measures to ensure that any individual subject to a barring order does not undertake any work with the barred group specified (i.e. children and/or adults).

We expect all employees, volunteers, and partners to share our commitment to safeguarding.

Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders

The University undertakes not to discriminate against anyone who makes a disclosure relating to a conviction. The information disclosed at application stage is only visible to the central DBS team (i.e. not recruiting managers) to ensure there is no bias during the shortlisting process.

Job Description

JD - Research Fellow in Human Embryo Development (110517).pdf – 64KB Opens in a new window

Right to Work in the UK

If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa, please follow this link which contains further information about obtaining the right to work in the UK.

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