MED05403 Research Assistant

£43,863 – £47,223 per annum

Research
Full time, fixed term
Location: Hammersmith, London
Closing date: 02/09/2025

About the role

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic Research Assistant to join our team and advance understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying inherited kidney disease and congenital kidney and bladder malformations, led by Dr Melanie Chan at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS). This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to research in bioinformatics and genomics using cutting edge single-cell and multiomics technologies supported by the Developmental Epigenomics Group led by Professor Juanma Vaquerizas.

What you would be doing

Your responsibilities will include computational analysis of large-scale whole genome sequencing, multiomic (scRNA-seq and scATAC-seq) and spatial transcriptomic datasets, contributing to the development of reproducible pipelines and assisting with preparation of high-impact scientific publications and grant applications. We encourage applications from candidates who are enthusiastic about computational biology and eager to develop innovative solutions to fundamental biological questions.

What we are looking for

You should have a Master’s degree in bioinformatics, computational biology, genetics, developmental biology, molecular biology or a related field. You should have hands-on experience with programming languages such as Bash, R and/or Python and be familiar with commonly used bioinformatics tools e.g. PLINK or Seurat. Expertise in processing large genomic datasets and working with next-generation sequencing data would be advantageous. Ideally, you will also have an interest in statistical analysis of genomic datasets, as well as experience working in a Linux/Unix environment and using high-performance computing (HPC) clusters.

What we can offer you

  • The opportunity to continue your research career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to use science for humanity.
  • Grow in your research career and gain expertise in state-of-the-art technologies and cutting-edge bioinformatics approaches.
  • Collaborate closely with a team of clinicians, biologists and computational scientists.
  • Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources designed to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Further information

This is a full-time post.

This role is for a fixed-term contract for one year (part-time options will be considered with a possibility to extend).

If you require any further details about the role, please contact: Aurelie Tromp, .

 

Closing date: 2 September 2025

The final appointment will be subject to pre-employment screening

Please note that applications may be reviewed by both LMS and Imperial staff.

Why join the LMS?:

Athena SWAN

In 2017, the Institute received an Athena SWAN Silver Award to recognize its commitment to advancing women’s careers in science and research.

At the LMS there are three working groups which deliver on the action plan developed for the silver application.

Equality, diversity and wellbeing

The MRC LMS is committed to creating equality of opportunity to all members of the organisation, regardless of their background, and promoting diversity and inclusivity. We observe the Medical Research Council’s Equality and Diversity Vision, which sets out the MRC’s commitment to fulfill its obligations as a public body under the Equality Act 2010.

Technician’s Commitment

The LMS is a signatory to the Technician Commitment, a sector-wide initiative led by the Science Council and the Gatsby Foundation which aims to address the particular career challenges faced by technical and scientific support staff.

Learn more about studying or working at the LMS

We provide opportunities to work alongside some of the top medical researchers on the planet, from our state-of-the-art research facilities.