Reference Number: SLSC0130
Job Title: Postdoctoral Research Assistants
School: Life Sciences
Unit: MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit
Grade: Grade 7 (£30,738 – £37,768)
Job Category: Research
Closing Date: 18 July 2016

We are seeking postdoctoral researchers to participate in the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy (DSTT) collaboration between the world’s major pharmaceutical companies (Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, and Merck-Serono) and leading Dundee-based researchers with a proven track record of achievement in understanding and exploiting the fundamental molecular causes of human disease in the fields of cancer, immune-regulation, neurodegeneration and hypertension resulting from disruptions in protein phosphorylation, ubiquitylation and other signalling networks.

As a result of a renewal in funding we are seeking to appoint postdoctoral researchers who will be based at the University of Dundee, to work with our collaborating companies on a variety of cutting edge collaborative projects to accelerate the understanding of biology required to develop improved drugs to treat global diseases – such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and Parkinson’s Disease.

The successful applicants, depending on interests and expertise, will be placed in one of 22 laboratories in the MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit (http://www.ppu.mrc.ac.uk/) or the School of Life Sciences (http://www.lifesci.dundee.ac.uk/) who have a major interest and track record in Cell signalling. The applicants will employ whatever technologies are required to address the projects that they are working on and will include a state-of-the-art blend of molecular, biochemical, physiological proteomic, pharmacological and genetic methodologies including CRISPR/CAS9 knock-out and knock-in technology.

In your application please include in your covering letter your areas of research interest and any potential laboratories based within the MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit and the School of Life Sciences that you would like to work in. For informal enquiries please contact Professor Dario Alessi d.r.alessi@dundee.ac.uk.

MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (PPU):

The MRC–PPU and the one of the world’s most renowned centres for research on protein phosphorylation and ubiquitylation (http://www.ppu.mrc.ac.uk/). Many world leading researchers in the field of signal transduction have trained within the MRC–PPU. The major aims of the MRC–PPU are to advance understanding of the role of protein phosphorylation and ubiquitylation in cell regulation and human disease, to facilitate the development of drugs to treat diseases caused by abnormalities in phosphorylation, to generate reagents and improve technologies. A key remit of the MRC–PPU is to train the next generation of scientists who will advance our understanding in this crucial area of medical research.

School of Life Sciences:

School of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee is the highest-rated for Biological Sciences in the UK by the main standard of University research performance REF2014 (http://www.lifesci.dundee.ac.uk/). Comprising about 100 research groups, the highest number of citations-per-paper for biological sciences in Europe (2013 and 2014 QS World University Rankings), over £100 million of research income in 2013 and nearly 900 staff from over 60 countries worldwide, the School enjoys a reputation as one of the most dynamic international centres for molecular cell biology, with outstanding laboratory and technology facilities. ‘Lateral’ and ‘vertical’ interactions within and between research groups are actively encouraged and 13% of publications in the past 5 years have been collaborations between two or more groups.

Division of Signal Transduction Unit:

The Division of Signal Transduction Therapy (DSTT) was established in 1998. This division operates as a unique collaboration between scientists in the MRC–PPU (all PIs including Ronald Hay FRS Honorary PI of MRC–PPU) and signalling researchers at the University of Dundee’s School of Life Sciences (Simon Arthur, Doreen Cantrell FRS, Alessio Ciulli, Paul Crocker, Grahame Hardie FRS and Carol MacKintosh) and three leading pharmaceutical companies (Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck Serono). The DSTT is widely regarded as a model for how academia should interact with industry, The DSTT operates as a simple bridging mechanism to enable our PIs working on ubiquitylation and phosphorylation to effectively interact with three major pharmaceutical companies to help accelerate the early stages of drug discovery. The DSTT model enables industrial researchers working in any of the worldwide outlets of three pharmaceutical companies to effectively work with the ~200 Dundee-based researchers that participate in the collaboration to understand the fundamentals of the molecular causes of disease that result from disruptions in protein phosphorylation and ubiquitylation networks.

Candidate requirements:

• PhD with outstanding academic track record and at least one first authored publication in an internationally recognised peer-reviewed journal.
• Strong background in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Signal Transduction would be preferable.
• Experience and strong interest in signal transduction research and how disruptions of these pathways are linked to human disease.
• Capable of working in a team, but able to plan and work independently.
• Excellent communication skills and knowledge of the English language are essential.
• The candidate should have ambitions to become a successful independent researcher either in academia or the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry.

The position is available for 2 years with possibility of further 2 year extension.

The position will be on the University of Dundee Grade 7 scale points 29-31 only (£30,738 – £32,600 per annum).

How to apply:

To apply on-line please visit: https://www.jobs.dundee.ac.uk/fe/tpl_uod01.asp s=4A515F4E5A565B1A&jobid=96661,7712524882&key=113419959&c=35487136864833&pagestamp=sesnmeasajifkypqpw

The University of Dundee is a diverse community and is committed to equality of opportunity for all by providing a supportive, flexible and inclusive working environment. We have family friendly policies (including flexible working and childcare vouchers), staff groups for LGBT and BME; and prayer room facilities.

The University of Dundee has received the Athena SWAN Bronze Award (http://www.dundee.ac.uk/about/athenaswan/) which recognises the promotion of gender equality and has made further commitment to advancing inclusive culture which supports and encourages all under-represented groups.

The University of Dundee is a Scottish Registered Charity, No. SC015096.
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