Research Assistant in Brain Tumour Biology

Research Assistant in Brain Tumour Biology

University of Oxford - Nuffield Department of Medicine

Oxford, United Kingdom

GBP 35,681 - 46,476 per year

The role

Reporting to Manav Pathania, you will be a new core member of the newly relocated group in Oxford. You will assist postdoctoral research scientists and PhD students in utilising in vivo brain tumour models to identify molecular targets underlying tumour maintenance and resistance to chemo, radio and immuno-therapy, using genetic barcoding and clonal lineage tracing and single-cell and spatial omics. Some work developing in vivo CRISPR screening approaches will also be required. Training in all aspects of this work will be provided but some prior experience in cancer or neuroscience research involving mouse models is essential. Over the course of the project, you will be expected to develop substantial familiarity with using mouse models in cancer research and associated in vitro and in vivo techniques for describing and testing observations and making mechanistic insights. You will also assist the PI in lab personnel management, administration of finances, maintaining animal licence ethical approvals, grants, and manuscript preparation. A propensity for self-reliance and an ability to successfully troubleshoot roadblocks normally encountered over the course of carrying out frontier research is desirable.

Responsibilities

You will

• Conduct high-quality research aligned with the project aims, under the supervision of the PI, postdocs and PhD students, and develop independence;
• Develop expertise in, refine and implement experimental methods, protocols and analytical techniques;
• Critically analyse, interpret and present experimental data with scientific rigor and reproducibility;
• Assist and collaborate effectively with internal lab members and external partners, including participation in interdisciplinary projects;
• Support the smooth running of the lab by contributing to shared responsibilities and day-to-day operations;
• Support the preparation of research grant applications, including contributing to the development of proposals and gathering preliminary data;
• Become expert in and then supervise and train others in in vivo and in vitro techniques (molecular biology, biochemistry, cell culture, histology, immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, immunology, single-cell/spatial omics, and in vivo techniques like engraftment, treatment, perfusion, tissue isolation and dissociation);
• Operate laboratory equipment used for all aspects of techniques listed above;
• Interpret results and present them to senior members of the group and Dr Pathania;
• Be responsible with others for the biological safety of the laboratory;
• Communicate with Dr Pathania and other members of the group as required, ensuring that they are kept fully up to date with progress and any difficulties in the research project;
• Manage own research and administrative activities, within guidelines provided by senior colleagues;
• Participate in and contribute directly to scientific discussions with other members of the research group and collaborators both on the project and contributing ideas for future research projects;
• Contribute ideas for new research projects;
• Develop ideas for generating research income and new scientific techniques;
• Ensure maintainence of confidentiality regarding research data when interacting with non- collaborating researchers;
• Collaborate in the preparation of scientific reports and journal articles and occasionally present papers and posters;
• Act as a source of information and advice to other members of the group;
• Assist in dissemination of findings of the research group by authorship of manuscripts, presentation of results at meetings, and contribution to the group website;
• Attend appropriate scientific seminars, training opportunities and meetings in the Institute and University;
• Participate in and support the public engagement and widening access activities of the Department and the University. This is anticipated to be not more than 2 days per year;
• Undertake mandatory training as required by the University, Division and Department. The specific list of training courses may change from time-to-time, in response to both legal and internal University requirements.

Job descriptions can never be comprehensive and you may be required to undertake other similar tasks and responsibilities.

Selection criteria

Essential

• Hold a degree in cancer biology, neurobiology, cell and molecular biology or a related field;
• Prior experience in brain or cancer research;
• Prior experience using either in vivo models or organoids;
• Expertise in standard biochemistry and molecular biology techniques including cell culture and flow cytometry;
• Expertise in standard in vivo techniques such as orthotopic engraftment and treatment;
• Prior experience in contributing to single-cell and spatial omics studies;
• Prior experience in contributing to in vivo functional genomics studies (CRISPR, shRNA);
• Strong skills in decision-making, problem-solving, planning and organising analysis and research, with attention to detail;
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write scientific text well, present data clearly, and communicate science effectively.

Desirable

• Prior expertise in confocal microscopy and histology/immunofluorescence;
• Prior expertise in contributing to cancer immunology studies;
• Previous experience of a self-directed research project that produced interpretable results;
• Experience in collaborating with computational scientists and interpreting genomics information to identify ideas to test at the bench/in vivo;
• Experience of contributing to reports and articles for publication, and generating high-quality figures for publication;
• Experience of working in a research team and contributing ideas for new research projects.