"Senior Research Associate"

Senior Research Associate

Biomedical & Life Sciences

Location:LancasterSalary:£39,906 to £48,882 (Full time, indefinite with end date)Hours:Full TimeContract Type:Fixed-Term/ContractPlaced On:2nd December 2025Closes:1st February 2026Job Ref:0802-25-R

Location: Bailrigg, Lancaster, UK

Interview date: Monday 1st March 2026

Primary Cilia Melanocyte Development and Melanoma

We are looking for a highly motivated and creative individual to join us as a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) within the group of Dr Richard Mort in the Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences at Lancaster University.

This MRC funded position is part of a collaboration between the Mort and Shih groups at Lancaster University and Prof. Pleasantine Mill at the University of Edinburgh. The position will join a team of researchers based in Lancaster and Edinburgh.

Our groups are interested in the primary cilium, development, tissue homeostasis and cancer with a focus on skin and the melanocyte lineage. We use live imaging and biosensors of cellular processes such as cell cycle progression combined with mathematical modelling and bioinformatic approaches (e.g. doi: 10.1038/ncomms10288, doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2018.10.027.. Cell, 2018, doi: 10.1126/science.adf548).

You should hold a PhD in a relevant field, have a background in microscopy live imaging, cell culture and molecular/cell biology techniques, and an interest in development and cancer. A UK Home Office personal license with experience in animal husbandry would be an advantage. We are looking for a highly motivated individual with excellent communication skills, the capacity to work collaboratively as part of a team and the ability to solve problems creatively.

This is a fixed term position at 1.0 FTE for a period of 28 months.

The Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, within the Faculty of Health and Medicine at Lancaster University, is a rapidly growing Division whose research effort is directed towards understanding basic cellular and physiological mechanisms that underpin disease states. It provides a friendly research environment that strongly supports the individual needs of each employee and which actively promotes a healthy work-life balance. The Faculty is committed to family-friendly and flexible working policies and has held a Silver Athena SWAN award since 2014 in recognition of its good employment practice undertaken to address gender equality in higher education and research.

Informal inquiries are welcome. Please contact Dr Richard Mort: r.mort@lancaster.ac.uk.

We welcome applications from people in all diversity groups and are happy to consider flexible working requests.

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