Research Associate (Fixed Term)
Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position working with Professor Frank Jiggins at the Department of Genetics in central Cambridge, and in collaboration with Professor Jim Kaufman at the University of Edinburgh. The successful candidate will conduct fundamental research aimed at understanding the evolution of MHC genes in natural populations of rabbits following a pandemic of the myxoma virus.
The project takes advantage of past work that has both characterised how rabbit populations evolved in response to myxomatosis, and described the Class I MHC genes in the rabbit genome. The post holder will investigate how the properties of MHC molecules changed as populations evolved resistance to the virus. By expressing MHC molecules that were common before and after the pandemic in cells, we aim to examine how their properties changed as resistance evolved.
The project will involve close collaboration with PhD students and collaborators working on the same project. The post requires creative candidates who are enthusiastic about taking experimental approaches to understand the evolution of MHC in nature from a functional perspective. We particularly encourage applications from candidates with a background in immunology and experience using techniques such as flow cytometry, cell culture and next generation sequencing. It will be advantageous to have previously worked on MHC.
The work will suit a researcher who holds, or is about to be awarded, a PhD in a relevant field.
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 31 May 2024 in the first instance.
We particularly welcome applications from women and/or candidates from Black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds for this vacancy as they are currently under-represented at this level in our University.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Informal enquiries are welcome and should be direct to Professor Frank Jiggins fmj1001@cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PC36911 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
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