Postdoctoral Scientist – Cancer Dynamics

• Starting salary in the range: £37,000 - £44,852 per annum (dependent upon qualifications and experience)
• Job Ref: MI/25/56 
• Duration:  4 years fixed term 

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. 

You will study the Targeting Recurrent Aneuploidies in Cancer Initiation and Metastases 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.

Background: 
Targeting Recurrent Aneuploidies in Cancer Initiation and Metastases: 

Aneuploidy, characterised by an imbalanced chromosome copy number is a hallmark of cancer1 and increasingly recognised in normal tissues2. Despite its prevalence, the functional consequences of aneuploidy across biological contexts remain poorly characterised due to experimental challenges in generating relevant aneuploidy models. 

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer, causing ~150,000 deaths annually. Its initiation is almost universally driven by chromosome 3(p) loss3, while chromosome 9(p) and chromosome 14(q) losses are strongly associated with metastatic progression4. These distinct recurrent aneuploidy patterns in ccRCC evolution makes it an ideal model for investigating how aneuploidies in normal epithelial cells drive tumour initiation and how aneuploidies in tumour cells promote disease progression.

1Beroukhim, R. et al. The landscape of somatic copy-number alteration across human cancers. Nature 463, 899-905 (2010). https://doi.org:10.1038/nature08822

2Lin, Y. et al. Normal breast tissues harbour rare populations of aneuploid epithelial cells. Nature (2024). https://doi.org:10.1038/s41586-024-08129-x

3Mitchell, T. J. et al. Timing the Landmark Events in the Evolution of Clear Cell Renal Cell Cancer: TRACERx Renal. Cell173, 611-623.e617 (2018). https://doi.org:10.1016/j.cell.2018.02.020

4Turajlic, S. et al. Tracking Cancer Evolution Reveals Constrained Routes to Metastases: TRACERx Renal. Cell 173, 581-594.e512 (2018). https://doi.org:10.1016/j.cell.2018.03.057

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.

About the Cancer Dynamics Research Group:

Please visit our website to view information about Cancer Dynamics Research Group:  https://www.cruk.manchester.ac.uk/research-group/cancer-dynamics/

Why choose Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute?

The Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute (www.cruk.manchester.ac.uk), an Institute of The University of Manchester (www.manchester.ac.uk), 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. In spring 2023 the Institute moved into the new Paterson Building, a £150 million flagship purpose-built biomedical research centre directly attached to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust (www.christie.nhs.uk), in South Manchester.

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

How to apply? 
For further information about the project and to apply for this position please visit our website: https://www.cruk.manchester.ac.uk/careers/ Please ensure you detail the names of three referees and ensure you submit your application before the closing date specified.

For any informal enquiries about this post, please contact Prof Samra Turajlić: samra.turajllic@cruk.manchester.ac.uk

Closing date: Sunday 23 November 2025.

Please note this vacancy will close for applications at 11:59 pm on the closing date specified.