Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Human Developmental Epigenetics (Babraham Institute)

Peter Rugg-Gunn’s team at the Babraham Institute are looking to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Scientist to lead a project that will investigate the epigenetic regulation of lineage specification during the development of early post-implantation human embryos.

Recent advances in culturing human embryos and embryo-like models beyond the implantation barrier, together with sensitive multi-omics technologies, are opening up new opportunities to directly study the remarkable epigenetic changes that occur during this crucial period of development. In this project, we will test the hypothesis that epigenetic pathways, including Polycomb-group proteins, selectively control the timing and efficient induction of the different lineages within embryo. The overall impact of the research is to further our understanding of human developmental epigenetics in order to improve our knowledge on human fertility, developmental disorders and applications to regenerative medicine.

The successful applicant will use advanced multi-tissue organoid systems and imaging methods to study the development of early-stage human embryos (under our group’s HFEA research licence). The job holder will work closely with other team members to apply single cell multi–omics technologies to investigate epigenome-transcriptome interactions during the specification of embryo lineages. Mechanistic leads will be tested using stem cell-derived embryo models, such as blastoids.

The ideal job holder will be interested in developmental mechanisms including lineage specification and gene regulation. Applicants should have completed a Ph.D. in developmental, molecular biology, genetics or related field, with a demonstrable track-record in academic research. They must have extensive experience in working with human or mouse embryos; training in working with human embryos will be provided as required. The successful applicant with work collaboratively with experimental and computational members of the Rugg-Gunn group and other teams within the Epigenetics Programme of the Babraham Institute, and also with members of the Human Developmental Biology Initiative. We are looking for applicants who are collaborative with effective communication skills and enjoy working in a team.  The job holder will support the operational and reporting responsibilities that are required for holding an HFEA research licence and will work closely with our collaborating IVF clinics.

The Babraham Institute is a world-leading research institute, with a positive and supportive culture of development and wellbeing. The Epigenetics Programme provides a thriving research environment with particular strengths in stem cell, developmental and ageing biology. We have access to onsite state-of-the-art facilities run by dedicated staff, including High-Throughput Sequencing, Bioinformatics, Imaging and Gene Targeting. We have close links to the University of Cambridge through affiliations with the Stem Cell Institute, the Centre for Trophoblast Research, Reproduction SRI, the Epigenetics Club, and with the many departments and companies that we work with.

The funds for this post are available for three years in the first instance, with the potential to extend the position beyond this period.

Informal enquiries can be addressed to Peter Rugg-Gunn (peter.rugg-gunn@babraham.ac.uk).

For more information about the position, and to apply, please see:

https://babrahaminstitute.livevacancies.co.uk/#/job/details/325

Closing date for applications is 5^th June 2022.