Download 0011657857 - University of Oxford

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SIR WILLIAM DUNN SCHOOL OF PATHOLOGY
Job description and selection criteria
Job title
Post Doctoral Research Assistant
Division
Medical Sciences Division
Department
Sir William Dunn School of Pathology
Location
South Parks Road, Oxford
Grade and salary
Grade 7: £29,541 - £36,298 per annum (1% pay rise pending)
Hours
Full time
Contract type
Fixed-term
Reporting to
Professor Elizabeth Robertson
Vacancy reference
Additional
information
This position is for three years in the first instance with the
possibility of renewal.
Introduction
The University
The University of Oxford is a complex and stimulating organisation, which enjoys an
international reputation as a world-class centre of excellence in research and teaching. It
employs over 10,000 staff and has a student population of over 22,000.
Most staff are directly appointed and managed by one of the University’s 130 departments or
other units within a highly devolved operational structure - this includes over 6,500
‘academic-related’ staff (postgraduate research, computing, senior library, and administrative
staff) and over 2,700 ‘support’ staff (including clerical, library, technical, and manual staff).
There are also over 1,600 academic staff (professors, readers, lecturers), whose
appointments are in the main overseen by a combination of broader divisional and local
faculty board/departmental structures. Academics are generally all also employed by one of
the 38 constituent colleges of the University as well as by the central University itself.
Our annual income in 2011/12 was £1,016.1m. Oxford is one of Europe's most innovative
and entrepreneurial universities: income from external research contracts exceeds £409m
p.a., and more than 80 spin-off companies have been created.
For more information please visit www.ox.ac.uk/staff/about_the_university.html
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Medical Sciences Division
The Medical Sciences Division is an internationally recognized centre of excellent for
biomedical and clinical research and teaching. We are largest academic division in the
University of Oxford.
World-leading programmes, housed in state-of-the-art facilities, cover the full range of
scientific endeavour from the molecule to the population. With our NHS partners we also
foster the highest possible standards in patient care.
For more information please visit: http://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk
Sir William Dunn School of Pathology
The Sir William Dunn School of Pathology is one of the largest science Departments in the
University of Oxford, employing around 300 people. It teaches physiology and medicine to
undergraduates and has an extensive research programme covering bacteriology and
virology, cell biology, immunology and molecular biology. The Dunn School is famous for
pioneering work on penicillin, which brought in the antibiotic era.
The Department has recently (Jan 2011) seen the completion of a major new building project
- the new Oxford Molecular Pathology Institute (OMPI). This £30 million Institute houses
programmes in immunology, molecular developmental biology, microbiology, and cancer cell
biology.
Current Research in Robertson lab
Our research programme aims to define the molecular cues guiding cell growth and
differentiation in the developing mammalian embryo. We have exploited transgenic and
embryonic stem cell technologies to investigate the key signalling pathways and
transcriptional networks controlling cell fate decisions. We are particularly interested in
understanding the molecular mechanisms by which specific transcription factors regulate the
expansion of diverse progenitor cell populations in the embryo and adult immune system.
For more information please visit: http://www.ox.ac.uk/department
Job description
Research topic
Molecular and genetic analysis of cell fate choices
Principal Investigator
/ supervisor
Prof Elizabeth Robertson
Project team
Project web site
Funding partner
Recent publications
The funds supporting this research project are provided by the
Wellcome Trust
Bikoff E.K and Robertson, E.J. (2008). One PRDM is not enough
for germ cell development. Nature Genetics 40, 934-5.
Arnold, S.A. and Robertson E.J. (2009). Making a commitment:
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cell allocation and axis patterning in the early mouse embryo.
Nature Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 10, 91-103
Harper, J., Mould, A., Andrews, R. Bikoff, E., and Robertson E.J.
(2011) The transcriptional repressor Blimp1/Prdm1 regulates
post-natal reprogramming of intestinal enterocytes. Proc Natl
Acad Sci U S A. 108, 10585-90
Costello, I., Pimeisl, I-M., Drager, S., Bikoff, E.K., Robertson, E.J.,
and Arnold, S.A. (2011). The T-box transcription factor
Eomesodermin acts upstream of Mesp1 to specify cardiac
mesoderm during mouse gastrulation. Nature Cell Biol. 3, 108491.
Mould, A., Morgan M.A.J., Li, L., Bikoff, E. K., and Robertson, E.
J. (2012). Blimp1/Prdm1 governs terminal differentiation of
endovascular trophoblast giant cells and defines multipotent
progenitors in the developing placenta. Genes & Dev 26, 206374.
Nowotschin, S., Costello, I., Piliszek, A. E., Kwon, G.S., Mao, C.,
Klein, W., Robertson, E. J., and Hadjantonakis, A. K. (2013). The
T-box transcription factor Eomesodermin is essential for AVE
induction in the mouse embryo. Genes & Dev 27, 997-1002.
Technical skills
Basic molecular biology, tissue culture, microscopy
Overview of the role
We are seeking to appoint a well trained, enthusiastic and self motivated Post-Doctoral
Research scientist to join our Wellcome Trust funded research team. The post-holder must
have a PhD or equivalent experience. Candidates with experience in targeted mutagenesis,
construct design, chromatin structural analysis, microarray analysis, high resolution cell
imaging, flow cytometry and/or proteomic approaches would be especially welcome. Good
organizational and communication skills are essential. The post holder must have proven
abilities to work closely with others as part of an effective team, and a strong publication
record.
Responsibilities/duties
Work independently and contribute conceptually to the overall research programme.
Establish and optimise protocols. Design and accurately execute experiments. Interpretation
and presentation of data for publication. Effectively communicate with the group head and
group members as required on a daily basis.
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Selection criteria
Essential
PhD or equivalent in developmental biology, genetics, biochemistry and molecular/cell
biology
Mammalian molecular biology skills including cloning, vector construction and basic tissue
culture skills
Protein analysis techniques
Chromatin structure analysis (ChIP)
RNA and protein analysis (Southern & Northern blotting, Q-PCR analysis)
Desirable
Culture and directed differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells
Proteomic and/or Bioinformatic Skills
Broad range of histological techniques
High resolution cell imaging and/or flow cytometry
Holder of Home Office License
Working at the University of Oxford
For further information about working at Oxford, please see:
http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/jobs/research/
How to apply
If you consider that you meet the selection criteria, click on the Apply Now button on the
‘Job Details’ page and follow the on-screen instructions to register as a user. You will then
be required to complete a number of screens with your application details, relating to your
skills and experience. When prompted, please provide details of two referees and indicate
whether we can contact them at this stage. You will also be required to upload a CV and
supporting statement. The supporting statement should describe what you have been doing
over at least the last 10 years. This may have been employment, education, or you may
have taken time away from these activities in order to raise a family, care for a dependant, or
travel for example. Your application will be judged solely on the basis of how you
demonstrate that that you meet the selection criteria outlined above and we are happy to
consider evidence of transferable skills or experience which you may have gained outside
the context of paid employment or education.
Please save all uploaded documents to show your name and the document type.
All applications must be received by midday on the closing date stated in the online
advertisement.
Should you experience any difficulties using the online application system, please email
[email protected]
To return to the online application at any stage, please click on the following link
www.recruit.ox.ac.uk
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Please note that you will be notified of the progress of your application by automatic e-mails
from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk mail regularly to ensure that
you receive all e-mails.
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