Research Assistant - Cambridge, United Kingdom - University of Cambridge

University of Cambridge

Verified Company

Cambridge, United Kingdom

3 weeks ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

beBee Recruiter

Description

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 36 months in the first instance.

The Transmissible Cancer Group at the University of Cambridge, Department of Veterinary Medicine, is seeking to appoint a Research Assistant to join a dynamic team studying the evolution and host interactions of transmissible cancers in dogs and Tasmanian devils.

This is a fixed-term 3-year position supported by a Wellcome research grant.

This post is expected to start on 3rd October 2023 but there is some flexibility for an earlier or later start date.

Transmissible cancers are long-lived clonal lineages of malignant cells that operate as infectious parasites, spreading between individuals by the physical transfer of living cancer cells.

Among mammals, such diseases have been described in only two species:
dogs and Tasmanian devils, and are spread by mating and biting, respectively.

These extraordinary cell lineages provide an opportunity to study cancer evolution over the long-term, and to investigate the interaction between cancer cells and the allogeneic immune system.

Furthering our knowledge of these diseases may also shed light on their transmission dynamics and inform conservation work.

This position is suited for someone with skills in computational biology and an interest in cancer evolution and tumour immunology.

The role-holder will analyse genome and transcriptome data from tumours belonging to transmissible cancer lineages.

We will annotate genetic variants and use these to understand past and ongoing mutational and evolutionary processes, including the impact of mutation on gene expression and tumour phenotypes.

Using RNA sequence deconvolution, we will seek to understand the contribution of host cells to the tumour microenvironment.

By integrating data from hundreds of tumours, our goal will be to understand how cancers exploit a transmissible niche, and how the interaction between cancer and immune system controls disease outcome.

Interviews will be held: 6 September 2023

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.