Grade UE07: £41,064 - £48,822 per annum pro‑rata if part‑time. College of Science and Engineering / School of Biological Sciences. Full‑time: 35 hours per week. Fixed‑term: for 36 months.
Job Description
We are looking to employ a postdoctoral researcher on a 36‑month contract to join the research group of Professor Susan Rosser, chair of synthetic biology at the University of Edinburgh Centre for Engineering Biology. The selected researcher will work on the development of gene switches for use in gene therapy. You will become part of the Engineered Genetic Control Systems for Advanced Therapeutics Hub (https://biology.ed.ac.uk/advanced-therapeutics-hub). The hub, directed by Prof Rosser, is a £14 M 5‑year UKRI‑sponsored research programme across 4 institutions (Edinburgh, Oxford, Imperial, CRUK SI) pioneering engineering biology for advanced therapeutics.
It is developing novel genetic tools to render gene therapies safe and effective, with initial focus on oncology, cardiovascular diseases and rare diseases. This specific role focuses on engineering CAR‑T cells and developing programmable gene control systems to improve safety and therapeutic efficacy. The successful candidate will design, build, and experimentally evaluate synthetic genetic circuits in human T cells, integrate them into CAR‑T cell therapies, and quantitatively characterise cellular behaviour in relevant experimental models.
The postholder will help shape experimental strategy, interpret complex datasets, and contribute to collaborative projects and publications. This role combines molecular biology, mammalian cell engineering, and synthetic immunology to advance programmable gene regulation technologies in engineered immune cells. The postholder will have many opportunities for multidisciplinary collaborative working with academic colleagues from the different institutional partners and industry, and training and professional development opportunities arising from being embedded and working with communities of translational scientists.
This post offers an excellent opportunity for academic career advancement in a world‑renowned centre of excellence for synthetic/engineering biology. The University of Edinburgh hosts a large diverse, dynamic and multidisciplinary engineering biology community of more than 50 research groups. The University of Edinburgh’s synthetic biology facilities are second‑to‑none, and include the Edinburgh Genome Foundry (https://biology.ed.ac.uk/research/facilities/edinburgh-genome-foundry) and Edinomics (https://biology.ed.ac.uk/research/facilities/edinomics).
Applicants must have a PhD in synthetic/engineering biology, molecular biology, RNA biology for appointment at Research Associate level. Applicants close to completion of their PhDs will also be considered where experience is directly relevant. Please see the job description and person specification document associated with this advert for the full list of criteria. This post is advertised as full‑time (35 hours per week), however, we are open to considering part‑time or flexible working patterns.
Your Skills And Attributes For Success
* PhD (or completion within 3 months) in mammalian engineering biology, immunology, or a related discipline.
* Experience in CAR‑T engineering or cellular immunotherapy experience.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to build rapport with colleagues and collaborators.
Application Information
* CV
* Cover letter outlining your fit and motivation for the role
As a valued member of our team, you can expect
* A competitive salary.
* An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
* To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
* Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family‑friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits.
Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion
The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality. Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages. The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant.
Key dates to note
The closing date for applications is 10th April 2026. Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59 PM GMT.
Contact: Susan.Rosser@ed.ac.uk
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