Job Description

Job number

MED05346

Faculties

Faculty of Medicine

Departments

Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction

Salary or Salary range

48,056 - 56,345 per annum

Location/campus

Hammersmith Campus - On site only

Contract type work pattern

Full time - Fixed term

Posting End Date

18 Aug 2025

About the role

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Are you ready to apply your research skills to an interdisciplinary project which spans the boundaries of fundamental and clinical research to advance gut health?



The Barry Lab in the Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction at Imperial College London is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join our team investigating the roles of hydrolytic enzymes and their regulators in colorectal cancer. This position is funded for 2.5 years by a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship 'Targeting hydrolytic enzyme activities to understand, treat and prevent colorectal cancer' awarded to Dr Barry (PI).

What you would be doing

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In this role, your goal will be to identify hydrolytic enzymes implicated in colorectal cancer using cutting-edge 'omics' technologies, work with collaborators to develop chemical inhibitors, and validate their efficacy in advanced gut-culture models. You will be part of a dynamic, interdisciplinary team of researchers, students, and clinicians; and benefit from access to world-class facilities, including the Imperial Chemistry Proteomics Facility, the NIHR Imperial BRC Organoid Facility, and the Centre for Intestinal Systems. You will be expected to take full ownership of research projects, from initiation to execution, and contribute to the co-supervision of Master's and PhD students. We are seeking candidates who will thrive in a fast-paced, innovative, and collaborative environment.



Beyond your core research contributions, you will play a key role in mentoring junior lab members and provide support for those undertaking proteomic experiments. You will take an active role in our collaborative research environment by contributing to lab meetings, leading discussions in journal clubs, and engaging with collaborators and invited speakers, as well as taking advantage of wider development opportunities within Imperial. You will be supported in submitting abstracts to relevant conferences and are expected to lead on publications to peer-reviewed journals.

What we are looking for

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Essential criteria for the role include:


Hold, or near completion of, a PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Chemical Biology or a closely related field Experience in mass spectrometry-based target identification (e.g., activity-based protein profiling, IP-MS or protein-protein interaction) and analysis Experience in target validation and/or chemical inhibitor testing using in vitro models, i.e., cell lines Strong research track record relative to experience, in academia and/or industry Ability to drive research goals independently within a collaborative team setting

Desirable experience for this role includes one or more of the following:



enzyme kinetic studies and substrate profiling, design and optimisation of chemical inhibitors, high-throughput screening assays, complex in vitro culture models (e.g., organoids and/or bacterial co-culture).

What we can offer you

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You will be part of an interdisciplinary team undertaking research which spans the boundaries of fundamental and clinical research The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity. Grow your career: gain access to Imperial's sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression. Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 39 days off a year and generous pension schemes). Fixed term post for 30 months, full-time Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Further information

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This is a full-time post (35 hours per week) based at our Hammersmith Campus.



Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as a Research Assistant.



Please outline clearly in your cover letter how you meet the essential criteria listed in 'What we are looking for' section.



If you require any further details about the role, please contact: Dr Rachael Barry- r.barry@imperial.ac.uk.

Available documents

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Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.



If you encounter any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us at support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk. We're here to help.


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About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.



Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world's toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.



As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you'll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.



This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you'll join us at Imperial College London.


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Our Culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.



Our values are at the root of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.