Summary
We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Scientist to join the Pathania Laboratory at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. This role focuses on developing disease-representative models of brain tumours, particularly ependymoma and atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumours, to identify precision therapy opportunities, tumour-microenvironment interactions, and mechanisms of treatment resistance. The successful candidate will play a senior role, supervising and mentoring junior lab members, and contributing to new research ideas, grant applications, and publications.
Designation
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Research Area
- Brain Tumour Research
- Ependymoma
- Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumours
- Precision Therapy Development
- Tumour-Microenvironment Interactions
- Treatment Resistance Mechanisms
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
- Cancer Immunology
- Genomics
- Computational Biology
Location
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7DQ
Job Description
The Postdoctoral Research Scientist will contribute to the development of disease-representative models of brain tumours, with a particular focus on ependymoma and atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumours. This includes identifying precision therapy opportunities, tumour-microenvironment interactions, and mechanisms of treatment resistance. The role involves:
- Designing and conducting high-quality independent research.
- Analysing and presenting experimental data.
- Managing research activities across multiple projects.
- Supervising and training junior researchers in in vivo and in vitro techniques.
- Contributing to new research ideas, grant applications, and publications.
- Collaborating with colleagues across multidisciplinary research programmes.
- Developing new models of ependymoma and atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumours.
- Using established approaches to identify new precision therapy opportunities, tractable microenvironmental interactions, and resistance mechanisms.
The lab employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating in vivo models, primary and patient-derived cell lines, drug and CRISPR screening, cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, genomics, and computational biology.
Eligibility/Qualification
Essential:
- Hold, or be close to completing, a PhD/DPhil in molecular biology, biochemistry, cancer research, or a related life science field.
- Experience in cancer research using in vivo models, primary cell lines, and PDX models.
- Demonstrated scientific independence.
- Experience supervising or mentoring others.
- Strong laboratory and in vivo expertise.
- A first-author publication or pre-print.
- Excellent research and communication skills.
Desirable (prior expertise in one or more of the following):
- Spatial or single-cell omics.
- CRISPR screening.
- Functional epigenomics.
- Cancer immunology.
- Functional genomics.
- Human organoid research.
- Human organoid biology.
- In vivo CRISPR screening.
- Single-cell multiomics/Epigenomics.
- Spatial omics.
How to Apply
Applications for this vacancy should be made online. You will need to upload a supporting statement and CV. Your supporting statement must explain how you meet each of the selection criteria for the post, using examples of your skills and experience. Please restrict your documentation to your CV and supporting statement only; any other documents will be requested at a later date.
Last Date for Apply
9th October 2026, 12:00 midday (UK time)
Apply Link
Additional Information:
- Vacancy ID: 188517
- Contact Person: Aruna Dhinakaran
- Contact Email: recruitment@ndm.ox.ac.uk
- Pay Scale: RESEARCH GRADE 7
- Salary: £39,424 – £47,779 p.a. with a discretionary range to £53,483 p.a. (pro rata). This includes a pensionable Oxford University Weighting of £1,730 per year (pro rata).
- Contract Type: Full-time, Fixed-term until 31 December 2029.
- Funding: Funded by Ludwig.
