Research Associate

(Fixed Term)

Salary: £28,132-£36,661

Reference: PD02320

Closing date: 09 January 2014

A Postdoctoral Research Associate position is available in the group of Dr Ian Henderson in the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge. The Henderson laboratory is investigating control of meiotic crossover frequency in plant genomes using a combination of experimental and statistical genetics. Examples of recent publications from the group include a map of crossover hotspots (Choi et al., (2013) Nature Genetics 45: 1327-36) and a study testing the role of DNA methylation for recombination (Yelina et al., (2012) PLoS Genetics 8: e1002844). This is a BBSRC-funded project that builds from this work that aims to manipulate meiotic recombination using TAL nucleases. TAL proteins are highly programmable sequence-specific DNA binding domains that can be used to target DNA double strand breaks to loci of choice. The PDRA will design and express TAL nucleases during meiosis to bias DNA breaks and the resulting crossovers. This will provide a powerful tool to investigate crossover control and serve as a proof-of-principle for application of similar approaches during crop breeding.

Candidates should have a Ph.D in molecular genetics or biochemistry and excellent experimental skills. Experience of plant genetics is advantageous but not necessary. Knowledge of computational genetics and bioinformatics would also be an advantage.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.

To apply online or view further information, please click on the 'Apply' button below.

To submit an application for this vacancy, please click on the link in the 'Apply online' button of the advert published on the University of Cambridge's Job Opportunities pages. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form. Please indicate the contact details of two academic referees on the online application form and upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a covering letter.

The closing date for applications is Thursday 9 January 2014.

Please quote reference PD02320 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

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