An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Postdoctoral Research Assistant position in the Professor Patrik Rorsman group within the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (OCDEM) on a highly prestigious JDRF-funded programme of research. The successful candidate will work closely with Professor Rorsman (OCDEM), Dr Linford Briant (OCDEM) and Professor Patrick MacDonald (University of Alberta, Canada).

The successful candidate will join a well-resourced team with a track record of major discoveries and supporting early career research fellows. The postholder will join a team applying a novel approach which combines single-cell sequencing with a functional readout of the individual cell’s behaviour: patch-clamp electrophysiology (“Patch-seq”; see Cadwell et al. (2016) Nat Biotechnol 34(2) and Camunas-Soler et al. (2019), bioRxiv). The postholder will apply this approach to human and mouse islet cells. The overarching goal of this collaboration is to understand how the single cell transcriptome relates to the electrophysiological properties of islet cells. Why is this important? The electrophysiological properties of islet cells change in diabetes, and these properties are ultimately what determines the secretory output of the cell. This technique has already generated a substantial patch-seq dataset (> 1500 cells both sequenced and patch-clamped) in islet cells from human donors (both non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic donors). This dataset has revealed key transcripts that distinguish different functional classes of cells.

The project will involve: analysing single-cell and bulk-RNA-seq datasets; learning patch-clamp electrophysiology (training of this technique will be provided); developing their own patch-seq dataset in mouse models of diabetes; developing their own patch-seq dataset in human islets isolated in OCDEM at the DRWF Human Islet Isolation Facility; making trips to the grant holder (Professor MacDonald), when the time is mutually suitable, to discuss and develop the project.

The postholder must have submitted their thesis at the time of commencing the post. A relevant PhD is essential. Previous publications and experience in presenting at national and/or international conferences is desirable. The position would suit a molecular/cellular biologist with experience of next generation sequencing (ideally at the single cell level), who is comfortable performing some bioinformatics analyses and has a strong desire to learn something new (patch-clamp electrophysiology).

The position is full-time and fixed-term for 12 months (in the first instance, with the possibility for a 12 month extension). The position will be based at OCDEM, Churchill Hospital, Oxford.

For informal enquiries, please contact either Linford Briant (linford.briant@ocdem.ox.ac.uk) or Isabel McCarthy (isabel.mccarthy@ocdem.ox.ac.uk). Please quote reference 141985 on all correspondence. As part of your formal online application, you will be required to upload a CV and supporting statement.

Only applications received before 12.00 midday on 23 August 2019 can be considered. Interviews are scheduled for week commencing 9 September 2019.