Research Fellow in Structural Biology

Research Fellow in Structural Biology (CryoEM/ET) Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences

Salary: Grade 7 (£41,064 - £48,822 p.a.)

This role will be based on the university campus. We are also open to discussing flexible working arrangements.

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have an established background in mechanistic studies of protein assembly using cryoEM/ET and want to help to develop new routes to combat amyloid disease? Do you want to further your career in one of the UK's leading research intensive universities?

We are looking for an outstanding research fellow to join our interdisciplinary team investigating how proteins aggregate into amyloid fibrils, and how fibrils with different structures perturb cellular function. This 6 year Wellcome Discovery award will involve three post doctoral fellows and two PhD students, who will form an integrated team combining biochemical, biophysical, cell biological and structural methods (cryoEM and cryoET) with the goal of transforming our understanding of amyloid polymorphism in vitro and its consequences in cells, in mouse models and in human tissue. The project will focus on IAPP involved in type 2 diabetes and -synuclein in Parkinson's disease. For this position we are seeking a talented postdoctoral researcher with expertise in cryoEM/ET of protein assemblies. You will use cryoEM/ET to explore how changing the assembly conditions alters the structures of amyloid fibrils, and how fibril structure and polymorphism change with time in vitro, in cells and in tissues. You will also determine the structures of fibrils extracted from murine and patient samples and determine the role of different fibril types in causing cellular dysfunction and disease. You will work closely with two other postdoctoral fellows funded on the grant who bring expertise in biophysical analysis of amyloid assembly and cell biological/imaging methods.

Understanding and Controlling Amyloid Polymorphism: From Test Tube to Tissue

You will be based in the laboratories of Professors Sheena Radford and Neil Ranson, and work closely with other members of our amyloid team. For this position you should have (or be close to completing) a PhD in Structural biology (cryoEM/ET) to elucidate protein assembly mechanisms.

Salary Requirements of the Skilled Worker Visa Route

Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information, please visit the Government's Skilled Worker visa page.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Professor Sheena Radford, Astbury Professor of Biophysics
Professor Neil A Ranson, Professor of Structural Molecular Biology

Location: Leeds - Main Campus, Faculty of Biological Sciences. Category: Research. Grade: Grade 7. Salary: £41,064 to £48,822 per annum. Working Time: 100%. Post Type: Full Time. Contract Type: Fixed Term (36 months). Release Date: Tuesday 27 January 2026. Closing Date: Sunday 08 March 2026. Reference: FBSAS1085. Downloads: Candidate Brief (PDF).

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