Postdoctoral associate or fellow
Posted by Austin Smith, on 27 November 2023
Job type: Post-doctoral Research Associate or Fellow
Location: Living Systems Institute, Exeter, United Kingdom
Closing Date: 17 December 2023
Plasticity of Pluripotency
Two exciting opportunities are available in the laboratory of Austin Smith to investigate the plasticity of the pluripotency network in different mammals. Applicants should be motivated by fundamental curiosity with a particular interest in early development and/or cell fate decision-making.
Post 1: Naïve pluripotent stem cells have to date been established only from rodents and primates. Our goal is to design signalling environments for capturing naïve pluripotent stem cells from livestock and other mammals, including marsupials. Approaches will include pluripotency network resetting and somatic cell reprogramming, as well as direct derivations from livestock embryos. This post requires cell culture aptitude, experience with genetic manipulations, and knowledge of developmental signalling.
Post 2: Mouse and human naïve pluripotent stem cells have overlapping but distinct gene regulatory networks and exhibit different direct lineage potencies. Our goal is to uncover the core gene regulatory network shared across mammalian species. Approaches will include genetic perturbations, transcriptome and chromatin analyses, and network inference. This post requires advanced skills in molecular cell genetics, ability to use basic sequencing analysis pipelines, and an interest in molecular networks.
Smith Group – Living Systems Institute – University of Exeter
Salary: From £32,332
Closing Date: 17 December 2023
Scientific fields: Cell fate control and differentiation, Early embryogenesis, Chromatin and epigenetics, Gene regulation, Signalling, Stem cells
Model systems: Human, Other vertebrate, Cell culture
Duration: Fixed term
Minimum qualifications: PhD