Post-Doctoral Research Associate (Fixed Term)
Join to apply for the Post-Doctoral Research Associate (Fixed Term) role at University of Cambridge
Post-Doctoral Research Associate (Fixed Term)
4 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants
Join to apply for the Post-Doctoral Research Associate (Fixed Term) role at University of Cambridge
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 18 months in the first instance.
We are looking for a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) with interest in commercialising scientific breakthroughs. The successful candidate will lead research on ERC PoC project PepVerse within Prof. Knowles' research group at the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge. This is a unique opportunity to drive the commercialisation of a cutting-edge platform that accelerates peptide-based drug discovery.
Peptide-based drugs present significant advantages over existing molecular therapeutics. Their ability to target challenging biological sites and modulate intracellular functions¿capabilities beyond those of traditional small molecules and biologics¿make them a promising class of medicines. However, progress in this area has been limited by the absence of high-quality, large-scale protein¿peptide interaction datasets critical for rational, AI-driven peptide design. To address this challenge, as part of ERC Consolidator grant, Prof. Knowles' research group developed a platform that enables high-throughput screening of peptide-based libraries against protein targets. The platform can be used to identify peptide-based binders across a variety of protein targets and provide starting points for drug discovery programmes. Moreover, it has the potential to create the world's largest protein/peptide mimotope dataset foundational for advancing any peptide-based drug discovery programme. The ERC PoC PepVerse project focuses on increasing the technology readiness of this platform, transitioning it from a promising research tool to a commercially attractive platform.
Prof. Knowles' research group uses experimental and computational biophysics and physical chemistry to study human health and disease with a particular focus on proteins and peptides. Prof. Knowles has founded and spun out five companies from his lab's research, addressing critical challenges in biotechnology, drug development, and materials science.
The successful candidate will have: - PhD in biochemistry, molecular biology, protein sciences or a related discipline. Additional research experience in industry or a post-doctoral setting is a plus. - Hands-on experience with a broad range of experimental technology in protein sciences and in working with peptides - Track record of publications that reflect professional expertise and robust problem solving skills - Excellent written and oral communication abilities, with a proven capacity to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams and with industry partners - Proven ability to efficiently plan and execute multifaceted research projects with multiple inter-dependent components - Demonstrated ability to effectively leverage AI assistive technologies, such as ChatGTP and Claude, to streamline processes - Hands-on experience in developing mRNA display-based assays or in designing or utilising peptide libraries incorporating non-natural amino acids, is highly desirable. - Strong analytical skills, proficiency in quantitative analysis of large datasets and working with pre-trained machine learning models is desirable but not essential
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV), a covering letter and publications list in the upload section of the online application. If you upload any additional documents that have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application.
For queries relating to the position or the application process, please contact Dr Kadi Saar on (email: kls78@cam.ac.uk).
Please quote reference MA45283 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The Department holds an Athena SWAN silver award for women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Further information
* Further information
Apply online
Seniority level
* Seniority level
Internship
Employment type
* Employment type
Full-time
Job function
* Job function
Research, Analyst, and Information Technology
* Industries
Research Services
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at University of Cambridge by 2x
Get notified about new Postdoctoral Research Associate jobs in Cambridge, England, United Kingdom.
Cambridge, England, United Kingdom 1 day ago
Research Associate (Wilkinson Lab) (Fixed Term)
Cambridge, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago
Cambridge, England, United Kingdom 1 day ago
Cambridge, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago
Research Assistant/Research Associate (EHR Data Scientist) (Fixed Term)
Cambridge, England, United Kingdom 1 hour ago
Research Assistant/Associate in Machine Learning (Fixed Term)
Cambridge, England, United Kingdom 5 days ago
Research Associate (Aliee Group) (Fixed Term)
Cambridge, England, United Kingdom 1 hour ago
Research Associate in Non-linear Waves (Fixed Term)
Cambridge, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago
Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Image Analysis (Fixed Term)
Cambridge, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago
Post Doctoral Research Associate (Fixed Term)
Cambridge, England, United Kingdom 3 weeks ago
Postdoctoral Research Associate: Chromosomal instability in marine transmissible cancers (fixed-term)
Cambridge, England, United Kingdom 1 month ago
Postdoctoral Fellow - Bacterial Genomics and Evolution
Hinxton, England, United Kingdom 6 days ago
Postdoctoral Fellow – Bioinformatics & Executable Modelling for Rare Disease Digital Twins
Research Associate / Senior Research Associate – Quantum gravity in a spin-mechanical device
Cambridge, England, United Kingdom 5 days ago
Postdoctoral Fellow – Atomic-scale modelling of hydrogen embrittlement
Cambridge, England, United Kingdom 1 hour ago
We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.
#J-18808-Ljbffr