King's College London

About Us

Applications are invited for a Post-Doctoral Researcher Associate to work in the  laboratory of Professor Malcolm Logan based in the  Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, which is part of the School of Basic & Biomedical Sciences. We sit in the  Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine and we are based at the Guy’s Campus of King’s College London.

The Randall Centre, King's College London is a vibrant research environment, hosting labs working in burgeoning fields in biomedicine. Our research addresses fundamental biological questions at the interface between the physical and biomedical sciences focused on cell motility and the cytoskeleton, muscle signalling, stem cells and developmental biology.

About the role

Manipulating a morphogen in time and space

A morphogen is a special class of signalling molecule that acts during embryonic development to generate a variety of cell states. In response to distinct threshold levels of morphogen signalling, cells follow different fates and form different structures. Therefore, within a given territory, a single morphogen can generate multiple outcomes.

This project will experimentally study how morphogens work and, more specifically, how their activity can be modulated during embryonic development to shape anatomical structures. This is an issue important for evolution of morphological diversity across different species and understanding the origins of congenital birth defects.

In this project, using the chick embryo model, will create experimental situations in which cells of the limb bud are exposed to low, intermediate, or high physiological levels of the morphogen, SHH, and we will modulate the length of time cells are exposed to these levels of signalling. Are you allergic to egg? This role would not be compatible for someone who has an egg allergy.

This is a full time (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 30/06/2028, starting no sooner than 1st July 2025.

This is a laboratory-based role and as such it needs to be performed on site.

About You

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1. PhD in relevant subject area such as Developmental Biology, Anatomy, or a related field *
2. BSc/MSc in relevant subject area such as Developmental Biology, Anatomy, or a related field
3. Worked in a research lab environment full time for at least 3 years
4. Proven experience and competence in a wide range of techniques used to study developmental biology or related fields
5. Evidence of ability to communicate findings both verbally and in presentations to other scientists, the funders and the public in English
6. Proven ability to keep accurate records and write to a high standard in English

* Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Desirable criteria

1. An author on at least one publication in an international, peer-reviewed journal
2. Clear interest in and knowledge of current understanding of vertebrate development
3. Knowledge of use of chick as a model system
4. Knowledge of limb development and evolution

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the next page after you click “Apply Now”. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

Further Information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.

As part of this commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process, it is our aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘ How we Recruit’ pages.

Interviews are due to be held in July.

This post is subject to Occupational Health clearances.