Job Description

Salary for this Role:
From 45,500 with benefits, subject to skills and experience
Job Title: Postdoctoral Fellow - J Briscoe lab
Reports to: James Briscoe
Closing Date: 23/Jul/2025 23.59 GMT
:
Postdoctoral Fellow - J Briscoe lab
Reporting to: James Briscoe, PGL
Contact term: This is a full-time, fixed term (4 year) position on Crick terms and conditions of employment.
Salary for this Role: From 45,500 with benefits, subject to skills and experience
About us
The Francis Crick Institute is Europe's largest biomedical research institute under one roof. Our world-class scientists and staff collaborate on vital research to help prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative conditions.
The Crick is a place for collaboration, innovation and exploration across many disciplines. A space where the brightest minds can pursue big and bold ideas and discover answers to crucial scientific questions. We support them in a dynamic environment which fosters excellence with state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting-edge facilities, and a creative and curious culture. We've removed traditional boundaries of departments, divisions and disciplines and instead have an open approach that supports every researcher. This gives us the freedom to take risks and carry out high-quality, pioneering research. Creating a space for discovery without boundaries helps us to turn our science into benefits for human health and the economy.
About the role
The Research Group
The lab aims to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underpin the development of the vertebrate neural tube. In this tissue, secreted molecules form extracellular gradients that regulate the expression of a set of genes, notably transcription factors, which control the identity and proliferation of neural progenitors thereby governing pattern formation and tissue growth. Using a range of molecular, imaging, and modelling approaches that combine single cell resolution dynamic assays of morphogen signalling, cell fate specification, gene regulation and growth the lab investigates how signalling is perceived and interpreted by cells to control gene expression and cell behaviour. They develop novel tools and approaches to obtain a comprehensive view of neural tube development and to analyze the interdependence between different aspects of pattern formation. For the experimental studies a range of models including mouse and chick embryos and mouse and human embryonic stem cells are used.
The Project
The project will involve designing and performing experiments using embryonic stem cells differentiation models and mouse, chick and human embryos. The aim is to investigate the molecular and mechanical control of tissue morphogenesis using an innovative in vitro system based human embryonic stem cell-derived organoids. The successful candidate will contribute to understanding how cells coordinate their behaviours during tissue formation, with a focus on integrating single-cell resolution gene expression analysis and precision mechanical measurements using computational models to predict tissue responses. The project aims to decode the genetic-mechanical basis of tissue self-organisation, reveal mechanisms of developmental robustness, and engineer predictive frameworks for tissue morphogenesis, ultimately contributing to a deeper understanding of development and regenerative medicine.
Postdoctoral Fellows will lead their own projects, contribute to other projects on a collaborative basis (both in the lab and with external collaborators) and may guide PhD students in their research. The ability to work in a team is essential.
What you will be doing
Key responsibilities
These include but are not limited to:
Carry out a research project within my lab, independently, but with my supervision and guidance. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing experiments and developing the project. Expected to have meetings to discuss the experiments and report progress approximately every month. Perform out experimental protocols. Many protocols have yet to be firmly established, so a large component of the role will be optimising protocols to achieve robust experimental data sets. Keep excellent records of the experiments and to carry out experiments with the strongest possible research integrity. Analysing data - specifically, processing data from imaging and/or genomics platforms, applying appropriate statistical and/or machine-learning models to interpret the experimental data. Keep up with the relevant literature. Collaborate with others in the lab and institute and also with the scientific facilities in the institute where appropriate. Collaborate with external researchers when the project requires it. Present lab meetings approximately every 2 months and to present a journal club to the lab at similar intervals. Present their work in a Crick interest group, approximately 2 or three times during their stay in the lab. Attend and present their work at external conferences when appropriate. Supervise others in the lab, for example master's students, or summer students when appropriate and supervise others in relevant techniques when the need arises. Write up their work for publication in conjunction with me and get it published.
About you
Key experience and competencies
These include but are not limited to:
Essential
The post holder should embody and demonstrate our core Crick values: Bold, Open and Collegial, in addition to the following:
Essential

• PhD submitted or recently completed
• Good knowledge and experience in relevant scientific area(s)
• Relevant technical expertise
• Evidence of writing papers e.g. as publications or submitted manuscripts in referred journals
• Evidence of data presentation at scientific meetings
• Experience of experimental design
• Ability to work independently and also capable of interacting within a group

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience of developmental biology and quantitative imaging.
• Knowledge of and experience of bioengineering and stem cell culture.

About Working at the Crick
Our values
Everyone who works at the Crick has a valuable role to play in advancing the Crick's mission and shaping our culture!

• We are bold. We make space for creative, dynamic and imaginative ideas and approaches. We're not afraid to do things differently.

• We are open. We're highly collaborative and interactive, and make sure our activities are visible to the outside world.

• We are collegial. We show respect for one another, work cooperatively and support the wider community.

At the Francis Crick Institute, we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to driving innovation and scientific discovery. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed, regardless of their background, identity, or personal circumstances. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all genders, ethnicities, abilities, and experiences. We are a Disability Confident: Committed employer and want to ensure that everyone can apply and be part of our recruitment processes and so we'll make reasonable adjustments if you need them - just let us know when you apply. If you need assistance with applying (i.e., would like to apply by phone or post) please email:
What will you receive?
At the Francis Crick Institute, we value our team members and are proud to offer an extensive range of benefits to support their well-being and development:

• Visas: Applicants for this role will be eligible for sponsorship to work in the UK

• Generous Leave: 28 days of annual leave, plus three additional days over Christmas and bank holidays.

• Pension Scheme: Defined contribution pension with employer contributions of up to 16%.

• Health & Well-being:

• 24/7 GP consultation services.

• Occupational health services and mental health support programs.

• Eye care vouchers and discounted healthcare plans.

• Work-Life Balance:

• Back-up care for dependents.

• Childcare support allowance.

• Annual leave purchase options.
• Crick Networks offering diverse groups' support, community and inclusive social events.

• Perks:

• Discounted gym memberships, bike-to-work scheme, and shopping discounts.

• Subsidised on-site restaurant and social spaces for team interaction.

Please note you must meet the essential criteria listed within the Role Profile, to have your application reviewed.
We reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any given time due to the number of applications received.