MI/25/56 Postdoctoral Scientist

Key Details

Job ID:
MI/25/56
Role:
Postdoctoral Scientist
Salary:
£37,000 – £44,852 per annum (dependent upon qualifications and experience)
Closing date:
23rd November 2025

About the role

We are looking for a postdoctoral scientist to work with a cutting-edge technology to understand cancer initiation and metastasis in our lab Cancer Dynamics which operates across the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute and the Francis Crick Institute. The role will be based in Manchester with a visiting scientist status at the Crick taking advantage of both research communities.

This project – targeting Recurrent Aneuploidies in Cancer Initiation and Metastases – takes place in the laboratory of Prof Samra Turajlić. This multidisciplinary project sits at the intersection of cancer genomics, preclinical modelling, and translational therapeutics.

This is a unique opportunity to work with our special clinical resources and cutting-edge genetic engineering technology to uncover how aneuploidy drives cancer initiation and progression, and to develop novel therapeutic strategies for better cancer treatments.

About you

You should have a PhD in cancer biology or other relevant discipline along with the ability to independently design and carry out research projects. You will have experience of establishing and maintaining 3D organoid cultures and experience of genetic engineering and identification of positive clones. Experience of CRISPR screen or drug screen is desirable as is experience of in vitro co-culture experiments and with in vivo xenograft and metastasis models.

Photograph of Professor Samra Turajlić
An immunofluorescence microscopy image of kidney tissue showing different tissue structures stained in red, blue, and green The blue colour (DAPI) is widespread, indicating the location of cell nuclei throughout the sample. The green colour (LTL) highlights specific regions, indicating the presence of proximal tubule cells. The red colour (NPHS1) is also distinct in certain areas, showing the presence of podocytes in the glomeruli. The overlapping colours in some regions suggest the complex structure and the close association of these different cell types within the kidney.
Paterson Building Scientific Administration

More information

Prof Samra Turajlić

Samra is the Director of Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, a Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Christie and also leads the Cancer Dynamics research group. They apply evolutionary principles to predict the trajectory of individual cancers by studying the forces that shape cancer evolution with the aim of using this knowledge to improve patient outcomes.

Cancer Dynamics

One of the greatest challenges in cancer medicine is understanding and predicting the trajectory of individual cancers.

As a multi-disciplinary group of cancer geneticists, computational biologists and clinician scientists we are using methods from evolutionary biology to understand the variable natural history of individual cancers, and most critically the emergence of metastases and drug resistance.

We are applying evolutionary principles to the question by studying the forces that shape cancer evolution and use this knowledge to improve patient outcomes.

We are focusing on two cancers, renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which is the most common type of kidney tumour, and melanoma, the most aggressive type of skin cancer. RCC and melanoma exhibit a wide spectrum of clinical behaviour, some are indolent, others extremely aggressive and we want to know how this relates to their evolutionary trajectory.

About CRUK Manchester Institute

Our aim is to understand the fundamental basis of cancer and apply that knowledge to developing new treatment strategies for cancer patients. Our advanced research programmes span a spectrum of cancer research, from the molecular and cellular basis of cancer through to drug discovery, translational research and clinical trials. rnThe Institute has access to outstanding laboratory facilities and exceptional core services, including next generation sequencing, microarrays, confocal microscopy, bioinformatics, histology and mass-spectrometry.

Prof Samra Turajlić
Cancer Dynamics
About CRUK Manchester Institute

How to apply

To apply for this position please complete the online application via ‘APPLY NOW’ button to visit our secure job application site. Please ensure you detail the names of three referees and ensure you submit your application before the closing date specified.

Closing date: Sunday 23 November 2025. Please note this vacancy will close for applications at 11:59 pm on the closing date specified.

Contact us for further information

Why choose Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute?

The Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, an Institute of The University of Manchester, is a world-leading centre for excellence in cancer research. The Institute is core funded by Cancer Research UK (www.cancerresearchuk.org),
the largest independent cancer research organisation in the world.

We are partnered with The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, one of the largest cancer treatment centres in Europe, which is located adjacent to the CRUK MI Manchester Institute in South Manchester. These factors combine to provide an exceptional environment in which to pursue basic, translational and clinical research programmes.

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