Job Description

Grade UE07: 41,064 to 48,822 per annum pro-rata

CMVM / The Roslin Institute

Fixed-term: Full-time (100%) Fixed term for 18 months or Part-time (50%), Fixed term for 36 months

We are seeking a

Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA)

to join our comparative oncology research group at the University of Edinburgh. The successful candidate will work with Professor Kelly Blacklock, Professor Liz Patton, and Dr Mark Stares.


This position is funded by the

Humanimal Trust

as part of the GENOMICS: Gene Expression in Oral Melanoma for Integrated Cross-Species Stratification project.


The PDRA will lead experimental work integrating molecular, immunological, and histopathological analyses of canine and human oral melanoma samples. The role will focus on:


Generating, optimising, and validating a gene expression assay using canine and human oral melanoma tissue.
Linking tumour subtypes (assigned using RNA sequencing, the validated gene assay, and immunohistochemistry) to treatment outcomes in NHS patients.

Main Responsibilities

Conduct molecular and immunological experiments, including RNA/DNA extraction, molecular profiling, immunohistochemistry, and bioinformatics workflows. Manage biobank samples and ensure accurate record-keeping and compliance with ethical approvals. Collaborate with colleagues across the UK and industry partners to integrate data and deliver project aims. Support MSc, PhD, and clinical residents engaged in the project. Prepare manuscripts, abstracts, and reports for funders and scientific audiences.

Your skills and attributes for success:

You will hold (or be close to completing) a PhD in cancer biology, immunology, molecular pathology, or a related field. Essential experience includes laboratory expertise in molecular or immunological techniques, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and evidence of producing scientific outputs. Experience in comparative oncology, translational research, bioinformatics/statistical analysis, and mentoring would be an advantage.



Please note Disclosure Scotland Level 1 Disclosure check (basis disclosure) is required for this role.





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job description

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Application Information

Please ensure you include the following documents in your application:

CV Cover letter 2 references
Informal enquiries are welcome to kelly.blacklock@ed.ac.uk

As a valued member of our team you can expect:

A competitive salary An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community Comprehensive Staff Benefits, such as a generous holiday entitlement, competitive pension schemes, staff discounts, and family-friendly initiatives. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page (opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the total value of your pay and benefits


You will join a supportive and collaborative environment within the

Roslin Institute and Institute of Genetics & Cancer

, with access to unique cross-species research networks in veterinary and human oncology. This role provides the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to translational cancer research and develop your career within a world-leading research community.

Championing equality, diversity and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.


Prior to any employment commencing with the University you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages (opens new browser tab)




On this occasion the University will not consider applicants requiring sponsorship for this role. International workers will therefore only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is

27th October 2025.

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm GMT. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.





Interviews will be held in

December 2025.