Job Description

Application closing date: 11/09/2023
Salary: \xc2\xa337,099 per annum
Job category/type: Research

The School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Sciences (MDBS) at Queen\'s University Belfast, is currently seeking to appoint an exceptional candidate to the post of Research Fellow to work as part a new CRUK-funded Early Detection project within the colorectal cancer (CRC) Molecular Pathology Research Group (www.dunne-lab.com).

In collaboration with our international partners, this project aims to utilise a dataset that include digital histology and transcriptomics data to uncover the molecular signalling that underpins early dissemination in CRC. Overall, this project aims to unveil the interplay between the epithelial tumour and surrounding immune/stromal cells to ultimately improve our understanding of CRC.

The highly motivated and ambitious candidate will become an integral member of a dynamic, collaborative and well-equipped research group that puts a strong focus on interdisciplinary data-driven research. Our group provides a stimulating research environment where collaboration and development of new ideas is strongly encouraged, alongside support for career development for emerging talents. The overarching goals of this research group are to develop a greater understanding of disease to improve survival rates for patients with CRC, through precise dissection of the transcriptional signalling pathways underpinning histological features of cellular invasion and metastasis.

Our group is primarily focussed on biological discovery, identification of molecular signalling and/or morphological phenotypes that will enable improved understanding of disease and translation of potential therapeutic options. This approach involves a combination of molecular biology, computational analysis and pathological assessment, enabling an integrated evaluation of multiple layers of molecular information.

The post-holder will work within an established interdisciplinary team and will be required to have a strong understanding of the biology underpinning signalling cascades in cancer that emerge from data analysis, and how these relate to key pathological features in CRC. The successful candidate will utilise the unique data from our human tissue samples and mouse tumour models to develop new, and refine existing, molecular subtypes in CRC through a combination of translational bioinformatics and digital pathology.

The successful candidate must have, and your application should clearly demonstrate you have:

• Obtained (or about to obtain) a PhD in cancer biology that includes a major component of bioinformatics analysis of cancer and/or digital pathology
• Specific, relevant research experience with molecular interrogation of cancer datasets using transcriptomics (including PhD experience)
• Experience with transcriptional data analysis and molecular subtyping
• Experience with phenotyping and evolutionary modelling of transcriptional datasets
• Publication of peer-reviewed paper(s) as co-author that include a large component bioinformatics analysis in cancer.

Please note the above are not an exhaustive list. For further information about the role including the essential and desirable criteria please click the Candidate Information link below.

This post is fixed term until 31 October 2024. Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.

At Queen\'s our people are at the heart of everything we do. As a staff member you will become part of a vibrant organisational culture, which will provide you with the opportunity to achieve your full potential and enhance your career through a continuous focus on learning and development.

We offer an excellent employment package that includes:

• Great terms & conditions
• Pension schemes
• Flexible working by enabling you to design your working week in collaboration with your manager through a blend of remote and office working
• Family-friendly initiatives
• Career development opportunities
• Support for health & mental wellbeing
• Generous holiday entitlement of 8.4 weeks a year (made up of 23 days annual leave, 10 closure days and 9 bank holidays)

Queen\'s University is committed to promoting equality of opportunity to all. We have created an inclusive culture by establishing staff networks such as iRise (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network) and PRISM (LGBTQ+) which help us progress equality.

We also subscribe to Equality Charter Marks such as the Diversity Charter Mark NI in addition to Athena Swan. For further information on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, please visit: ; i and

Informal enquiries may be directed to Donna Small -

Times Higher Education