Francis Crick Institute
Postdoctoral Training Fellow – Immune Cell Biology
Applications are invited for a full-time, 4-year position on Crick terms and conditions of employment. Please note this is a rolling advert with no specific closing date, which will close once the position is filled. Applications will be considered as they arrive.
The Tybulewicz group
Immune Cell Biology Laboratory
The lab is studying signalling pathways that control the biology of B and T lymphocytes. In particular we are working on pathways that control lymphocyte activation, differentiation, survival, adhesion and migration. We use a broad range of techniques including mouse genetics, biochemistry, imaging, proteomics, transcriptomics and cellular immunology. The lab currently consists of around 13 researchers including PhD students, postdocs and laboratory research scientists. For more information see the lab website.
Project summary
We have previously shown that the WNK1 kinase regulates T cell migration and adhesion (Köchl et al, 2016. Nat Immunol, 17, 1075-1083). In unpublished work we have found that WNK1 also regulates T cell activation and discovered a novel and unexpected signalling pathway that regulates ion and water flux across the plasma membrane, which is essential for T cell migration and activation, thereby opening up an exciting new area of investigation. The proposed research will focus on how the WNK1 pathway and ion and water flux regulate T cell migration and activation. The work will look at the role of ion and water transporters in the regulation of these processes, and is likely to use mouse genetics, cell biology, imaging, biochemistry, microfluidics and optogenetics.
Postdoctoral Training Fellows are expected to lead their own projects, contribute to other projects on a collaborative basis (both in the lab and with external collaborators) and guide PhD students in their research. The ability to work in a team is essential.
Informal enquiries are welcome, and should be directed to Victor Tybulewicz (Victor.T@crick.ac.uk).
Key experience and competencies
The post holder should embody and demonstrate our core Crick values: bold, imaginative, open, dynamic and collegial, in addition to the following:
Essential
•PhD, or in the final stages of PhD completion, in a relevant area (including but not limited to: cell biology, biochemistry, genetics)
•Knowledge and experience of cell biology, genetics or biochemistry
•Experience of imaging by light microscopy
•Track record of writing papers as evidenced by publications or submitted manuscripts in refereed journals
•Evidence of data presentation at scientific meetings
•Excellent organisational and communication skills
•Ability to work independently and also capable of interacting within a group
Desirable
•Experience in research using mouse genetics
•Experience in research on T or B cells
