Postdoc opportunity at the University of Cambridge

The research group of Dr. Evgeny Zatulovskiy at the University of Cambridge is seeking to recruit a passionate and skilled postdoctoral research associate with expertise in stem cell biology and a keen interest in cellular decision-making mechanisms and quantitative biology.

The Zatulovskiy lab is an interdisciplinary team dedicated to unravelling the mysteries of animal cell size regulation and cell fate decision mechanisms (visit our website at https://www.zatulovskiylab.org). Our previous research demonstrated that the size of the cell can act as an important modulator of many cellular processes in somatic cells (Zatulovskiy et al., Science 2020; Lanz et al., Mol Cell 2022), and now we aim to determine how cell size affects signalling pathways and cell fate decisions in stem cells.

While different cell types in our body differ in size by many orders of magnitude, cells of a given type are incredibly uniform in size, suggesting that cell size is tightly controlled and crucial for tissue function. Consistent with this, significant cell size alterations are often associated with diseases and ageing. Nevertheless, surprisingly little is known about how size affects specific aspects of cell physiology, and we are only beginning to understand what molecular mechanisms regulate animal cell size. In our lab, we employ a systems biology approach and a diverse array of state-of-the-art quantitative techniques, including live-cell fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, SILAC proteomics, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing, and mathematical modelling, to understand how animal cells regulate their size and how changes in cell size influence cell behaviours and fate decisions in health and disease.

We are seeking an enthusiastic postdoctoral fellow who will investigate how cell size biases cell fate decisions – in particular, the decisions of stem cells to self-renew or differentiate. The project will involve the use of stem cell maintenance and differentiation protocols, along with a range of cell biology assays, biochemistry, quantitative live-cell microscopy and flow cytometry, as well as proteomics and transcriptomics. The ideal candidate will possess expertise in one or more of these techniques and demonstrate a willingness to learn new methods and concepts. Moreover, a suitable candidate will have completed a PhD and demonstrated a high research impact and extensive experience. We are looking for individuals who can think independently and serve as a driving force for their research projects.

Zatulovskiy lab is part of the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge (https://www.bioc.cam.ac.uk/research/faculty/evgeny-zatulovskiy). The University of Cambridge offers a vibrant scientific community, access to cutting-edge research facilities, and numerous collaboration opportunities. In our group, we foster an inclusive, friendly, and supportive environment to help all trainees achieve their scientific and career goals. We strongly encourage international applicants and individuals from underrepresented groups to apply.

Prospective candidates are invited to send inquiries regarding this position to Dr. Evgeny Zatulovskiy at zatulovskiy@cantab.net. Please include your CV, contact details of two academic references, and a brief statement describing your research experience, interests, and motivations for joining our group.