Research Fellow – Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences – 106994 – Grade 7 Full-time

Job Title

Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medicine and Health

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822

Grade: 7

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to January 2029

Closing date: 2nd March 2026

This role is also open as an internal secondment opportunity which would need to be agreed by your current line manager.

Background

To create and contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking a specified range of activities within an established research programme and/or specific research project.

This Wellcome Trust-funded post is established to study the mechanisms of transcriptional control of mRNA fate in development. The post holder will be part of a multi-disciplinary research team within the Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences. Their main role will be to apply and develop new methods of precise genome manipulation and subsequent in vivo phenotyping (e.g. high resolution 4D imaging) and molecular analysis (transcriptomics, metabolomics) of zebrafish embryo models. They will develop transgenic and mutant models for transcriptional regulation of post-transcriptional mRNA fate focussing on transcription initiation dependent mRNA diversification. They will answer questions about how transcription control on promoter level contributes to metabolic adaptation and response to metabolic stress in development. They will perform and develop assays for in vivo detection of metabolic shifts by transgenic and other reporter activity and will work together with genomics experts and those seeking mechanism of translation regulation of mRNAs in the same programme. The post is available for 3 years.

Role Summary

Work within specified research grants and projects and contribute to writing bids

Operate within area of functional genomics and developmental genetics

Analyse and interpret research findings and results by embryo phenotyping by genomics and imaging tools, publish high quality new results in peer reviewed journals

Contribute to generating funding for further research in the area

Contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and/or public understanding of the discipline or similar

Main Duties

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Analyse and interpret genomics, embryo phenotyping and developmental genetic data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding of transription control
• Disseminate research findings for peer reviewed publication, research seminars conferences and consortium meetings
• Supervise students on wet lab research and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the developmental genetics, functional genomics
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods in genome editing and manipulation, in vivo phenotyping
• Design experiments, new research studies and develop new projects within the research topic
• Undertake management/administration arising from research within the consortium and the wider research team
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Person Specification

• First degree in biology or related subject and normally, a PhD in biomedical research area or equivalent qualifications
• High level analytical capability
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Fluency in embryo model (preferably zebrafish) associated genome manipulation techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones including: embryo molecular phenotyping and in vivo imaging
• Fluency in genetic manipulation tools applied in developmental genetics,
• Ability to work with complex in vivo models (e.g. zebrafish embryos)
• Practical experience with molecular phenotyping ( e.g. transcriptomics)
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
• Evidence of researcher capabilities in the form of major contributions (e.g first author) to peer reviewed publication(s)
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly