Location: White City Campus
Job Summary
The Di Antonio research group is looking for a talented Research Associate to join the team studying Nucleic Acids structures, working at the interface between Chemistry and Biology. You will work in a multidisciplinary team based in the new Imperial College Molecular Science Research Hub in White City Campus and in close collaboration with the satellite research group that we have recently established at the Francis Crick Institute.
This position is aimed to outstanding synthetic chemists wishing to develop novel chemical biology tools to interrogate DNA structural dynamics in cells, with particular interest in developing chemical biology tools to target individual G-quadruplex structures in the genome.
Duties and responsibilities
The main duty of this position will be a chemical biology platform to target individual G4s in the human genome by developing a chemical conjugate between a G4-ligand and CRISPR-Cas9 tools. You are expected to contribute to the development of these tools from a synthetic chemistry point of view as well as from a more molecular-biology and cell-biology angle, although previous experience in all these areas is not expected. As a member of the Di Antonio group, you will also be collaborating with other group members and support with student supervision. You will also have the opportunity to present your work at international conferences or webinars and leverage on the recently established group satellite at the Crick Institute to engage with the wider biomedical community for application of the platform developed.
Essential requirements
Applicants are expected to have a PhD in Chemical Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or a closely related area, or equivalent multidisciplinary experience.
Although the nature of the research is highly multidisciplinary some experience in synthetic organic chemistry is essential to efficiently prepare chemical ligands required. Previous experience in Nucleic Acids research both at the chemistry and biochemistry level will beneficial but not essential. Similarly, experience with molecular biology and/or CRISPR-Cas9 technologies will be considered highly beneficial but not essential. The successful candidate must be able to work independently and demonstrate strong organisational and multidisciplinary research collaboration skills. This is an ideal position for experienced scientists seeking to develop innovative Chemical-Biology tools, and with the ambition to establish an independent group in this area. Appropriate support will be provided to successful candidates to develop competitive fellowship applications.
Further Information
This is a full time, fixed term position for three years in the first instance.
You will be based at the state-of-the-art £170M Molecular Sciences Research Hub at Imperial College White City Campus.
*Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as a Research Assistant within the salary range £36,694 – £39,888 per annum.
Informal enquiries are welcome and can be made to Dr Marco Di Antonio [email protected]. Please note that this email address is for enquiries only and you should not send your application to this email.
Candidates are required to complete an online application and include a CV and supporting statement. Please indicate in your supporting statement your plan for fellowship applications and your motivation to join the group, as this will be discussed at interview.