Job Description

Job number

MED05556

Faculties

Faculty of Medicine

Departments

National Heart & Lung Institute

Salary or Salary range

49,017 - 55,144 per annum

Location/campus

Hammersmith Campus - On site only

Contract type work pattern

Full time - Fixed term

Posting End Date

18 Dec 2025

About the role

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Mitochondrial DNA mutations are implicated in a broad range of diseases, as well as being associated with ageing. They are causative to mitochondrial disorders, that are the largest group of inborn errors of metabolism and contribute to the development of conditions as diverse as cancer and neurodegeneration. During early mammalian development there are multiple mechanisms that reduce the mtDNA mutation load. How these mechanisms act at the molecular and cellular level is still poorly understood, but unravelling their basis may represent future therapeutic targets for reducing the transmission of heteroplasmic mtDNA disease.



The aim of the project is to develop new predictive tools to identify and remove dysfunctional cells during pregnancy. The project will use a variety of state-of-the-art cell biology and molecular approaches, combining metabolic, super-resolution imaging, single cell transcriptional profiling and functional analyses in pluripotent stem cells to address these questions. This project will use human and mouse pluripotent stem cell models to investigate the impact of different types of mitochondrial mutations on early mammalian development. The project will use pluripotent stem cell models with mitochondrial dysfunction to establish this affects pluripotency, and the ability of stem cells to differentiate and generate spatially patterned tissues. There is increasing evidence that self-correction mechanisms can eliminate dysfunctional cells in mosaic tissues (reviewed in Nichols, Lima and Rodriguez, Cell Stem Cell 2022). The project will also investigate the importance of cell competition in the selection of aneuploid cells and identify the pathways that govern this selection.

What you would be doing

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You will be working in the group led by Prof. Tristan Rodriguez (Imperial College London), in collaboration with Prof. Ivana Barbaric (Sheffield University). You will carry out a research programme in stem cell and developmental biology, undertake project management and supervise a multi-disciplinary team.

What we are looking for

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A PhD in stem cell or developmental biology or a closely related discipline.

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as a Research Assistant within the salary range 43,863 - 47,223 per annum

Experience in genetic engineering, cell competition, cell and molecular biology approaches. Experience in imaging research methods and statistical procedures. Experience in supervising or mentoring undergraduate and postgraduate student. You will be excellent and ambitious, and will use the opportunities available at Imperial

What we can offer you

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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 career development. Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 41 days off a year and generous pension schemes). Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with vario

Further information

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This is a full time, fixed-term post for 2 years in the first instance with the possibility of extension. Interested candidates will complete the application online via Imperial job site.



Should you require any further information on the role, please contact Prof. Tristan Rodriguez (tristan.rodriguez@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.

About Imperial

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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.



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