Job Description

MRC Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Senescence and Inflammation (LMS 2364)

Salary: £42,694 plus London allowance (£5,560) per annum*

Additional allowances comprise a £1000 lump sum Settlement Allowance plus a yearly Training Allowance of £850 in the first year, paid in monthly installments. The Training Allowance increases to £1,300 in year two, £1,800 in year three

3 years fixed term | Full time | Location: Hammersmith London

Closing Date: 3 June 2026

Overall purpose:

The senescence group has a long-standing interest in studying senescence. We have contributed to understanding the role of senescence as a tumour suppressor mechanism (Collado et al. Nature 2005), in limiting iPSC reprogramming (Banito et al. Genes Dev 2009) or activating immune surveillance (Kang et al. Nature 2011). We have also contributed to identifying molecular mechanisms controlling senescence (Gil et al. Nat Cell Biol 2004; Tordella et al. Genes Dev 2016) and the inflammatory phenotype associated with senescence (Acosta et al. Cell 2008; Acosta et al. Nat Cell Biol 2013; Herranz et al. Nat Cell Biol 2015; Georgilis et al.Cancer Cell 2018). We are also interested in identifying strategies to identify (Duran et al. Nat Comm 2024) and target senescent cells to treat multiple diseases, including cancer (Guerrero et al.Nat Metabolism 2019; Guerrero et al. Aging Cell 2020; Guerrero et al.Nat Aging 2022;McHugh et al. Nat Cell Biol 2023; D’Ambrosio et al Nat Cell Biol 2026). More recently, we have investigated the relationship between senescence and immune cells (Haston et al. Cancer Cell 2023) and how we can harness it for therapeutic benefit (Reen et al. Sci Adv 2025).

Following on that, the successful candidate will work on a project trying to unveil how metabolic and other signals control inflammatory processes and SASP production in senescent cells

Main Duties/Key Resoponsibilites:

• Experience with immunology
• Strong background in cell biology
• Working knowledge of bioinformatics and analysis of complex datasets
• Experience with fluorescent microscopy
• To be able to conduct research in accordance to the project

• To actively contribute to the smooth running of the laboratory in co-ordination with other members of the group

• To form a good working relationship with other members of the group and actively participate in team work

• To design and carry out scientific experiments in accordance with the group projects

• To analyse, manage and communicate data, ensuring the validity and reliability of the data at all times

• To generate reagents for the group projects

• To maintain organised and accurate records of experimental data

• To actively participate in the group’s research meetings and other research meetings related to the project

• Any other duties as may be deemed reasonable by Head of Group

Person Requirements

Education / Qualifications / Training required (will be assessed from application form):

Essential:

• A PhD (or equivalent experience) in a Life Science or Biomedical discipline
• Being first author of at least three research paper already published

Knowledge and experience (will be assessed from application form and at interview):

Essential:

• Experience in molecular biology (cloning, PCR, IF, IHC, etc).
• Experience in cell biology
• Experience in immunology and inflammation
• Excellent written communication skills in English and the ability to write clearly for publication

Desirable:

Experience with lentiviral or retroviral expression systems

Personal Skills / Behaviours / Qualities (will be assessed at the interview)

Essential:

• Excellent laboratory skills
• Excellent organisational skills
• Excellent attention to details
• Excellent creativity
• High-Motivation and perseverance
• The post holder should be prepared to work unsociable hours as work demands from time to time
• Ability and willingness to adapt to changing timetables or work patterns as dictated by changing circumstances
• Ability to work under pressure while maintaining a high degree of accuracy
• Proven ability to prioritise, plan ahead and manage a high volume of work to meet deadlines both prescribed and self-imposed
• Ability to use own initiative and work independently and as part of a team as required
• Problem solving abilities
• Proven multitasking abilities
• Ability to work in a collaborative research environment
• Willingness to give and receive help with challenging problems
• Excellent verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to communicate science in a clear manner
• Good interpersonal skills
• Willingness to share knowledge and transfer skills to other members of the group on a daily basis

Additional information:

Applicants must submit a CV, names and contacts of two scientific references along with a cover letter stating why you are applying for this role (providing evidence against the requirements of the job as per the job description and person specification). Applications without a cover letter will not be accepted.

Please quote reference number LMS2364.

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

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UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI

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Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

As part of the pre-employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre-condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re-run, security clearance as required during the course of employment.