SALARY: £33,002-£46,049
CLOSING DATE: 13 November 2025
REFERENCE: PL47607
A creative postdoctoral researcher is sought to work in Mark Howarth's group on a project funded by BBSRC at Cambridge University Department of Pharmacology. The Howarth group has broad interests, including synthetic biology, biotechnology and entrepreneurship (www.howarthgroup.org). The project relates to engineering a rainbow of protein superglues to enable diverse applications, including in medicine, biotech and fundamental research. SpyTag is a genetically-encoded peptide created by the Howarth lab, which forms an irreversible covalent bond to its protein partner SpyCatcher. SpyTag provides a unique resource for molecular assembly and has been applied by ~1,000 groups around the world for basic research and biotech, as well as reaching clinical trials. This project will devise and engineer a panel of Tags/Catchers with selective and rapid reaction, for robust construction of new devices both in cells and in vitro. According to the interests of the appointed postdoc, there will be the opportunity to apply these superglues to overcome challenges in gene therapy, cell therapy of cancer, vaccines for global health, green biotransformation, or in diagnostics.
The project will involve directed evolution and protein optimisation, applying molecular biology and biophysics. Researchers will be supported to develop skills in the latest AI or machine learning tools for protein design.
According to the development of the project, there may be the chance to learn other methods of interest including cell biology and structure determination. We will provide all relevant training in unfamiliar methods.
Responsibilities include managing research activities, generating high quality data, and devising new project approaches. You will be expected to draft scientific manuscripts and may be involved with day-to-day supervision of Masters or PhD students.
Candidates should have an enthusiastic approach to science. You will hold a PhD, or be near completion of a PhD, in an area of molecular biosciences. You will be skilled at presenting your data, verbally and in writing. You should be committed to collaborative and interdisciplinary research and be able to work both independently and as part of a research team. Substantial experience either with recombinant protein expression or cell biology is essential.
Successful candidates who have not been awarded their PhD by the appointment date will be appointed as a Research Assistant at Grade 5 £33,002 - £35,608. Upon the award of the PhD the individual will be promoted to Research Associate, Grade 7 £37,694- £46,049. The salary can be supplemented by contributing to Undergraduate teaching.
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 36 months in the first instance.
To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please visit : http://www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/53144.
Informal enquiries are welcomed to Prof Mark Howarth mh2186@cam.ac.uk
For enquiries about the online application process, please contact the HR Team, hr@phar.cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PL47607 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
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