We are seeking an outstanding postdoctoral researcher with entrepreneurial drive to carry out experimental work to support the development of a spin‑out company focused on anti‑obesity target discovery and drug development. Obesity is a highly heritable condition, and genes associated with obesity are highly concentrated in regions of the brain that regulate appetite, such as the hypothalamus. Our collaborators have identified novel genes associated with obesity that could make attractive new therapeutic targets. To study human appetite‑regulatory hypothalamic neurons, the Merkle group at the University of Cambridge pioneered methods to generate them from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), and demonstrated that these neurons closely resemble their counterparts in the brain in their morphology, patterns of gene expression, and function. We developed tools and assays to measure neuronal phenotypes directly relevant to the regulation of appetite at scale to facilitate both unbiased discovery and targeted validation. For example, we showed these neurons respond strongly to relevant metabolic factors, hormones, and drugs like semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy).
The successful candidate will have a PhD in neuroscience or a related field, and practical and theoretical expertise in cellular biology (e.g. mammalian cell culture, fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry) and molecular biology (e.g. bacterial cloning, Western blotting, gene editing), and an interest in commercialisation. Excellent communication skills are essential, as are the ability to independently manage time, to independently design and execute experiments, and to collaborate effectively. The ideal candidate will also have practical expertise with hPSC and neuronal culture, high‑throughput cell‑based functional assays, experience working in biotech or pharma, and expertise in statistical analysis and data visualisation. The position will be based in the group of Florian T. Merkle in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Cambridge, and will involve regular meetings with collaborators. Please see the Further Particulars for more details about the role.
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