Research Associate

Department

The Fielding laboratory has recently relocated from UCL to the Centre for Blood Research at the University of York. It is a highly collaborative and supportive environment with joint lab meetings together with the Kent, Hitchcock, Grey, Bridge and Barlow groups. There is a superb bioscience technology facility.https://www.york.ac.uk/biology/technology-facility/

We are also part of the York Biomedical Research Institute and of the Hull York Medical School.

Role

The Fielding laboratory is seeking a post doctoral research associate to work on the cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF) in acute lymphoblastic leuakemia (ALL) for 3 years.

We recently identified a key component of the niche that protects ALL cells from chemotherapy, namely, the development of CAF from bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC). CAF appeared prominently in primary patient specimens obtained during treatment for ALL. We modelled the de novo development of CAF in vitro from either normal, healthy human MSC or the stromal cell line HS27a upon exposure to ROS-inducing chemotherapy. CAFs formed a nestin-positive niche in murine ALL bone marrow and ‘rescued’ the ALL cells from chemotherapy agents upon transfer of mitochondria from the CAF. MSC also become CAF not just by exposure to chemotherapy but also by exposure to the ALL cells themselves. Mitochondria released from ALL cells are taken up from by MSC without the need for cell-cell contact. We suspect damaged mitochondrial (mt) nucleic acid as the trigger for CAF formation. There are multiple directions for future work. The precise project will be defined, in part, by the interest and skills of the applicant.

Some members of the Fielding group remain at UCL but will visit York regularly and will be available for technical training and assistance. The post is based full time at the University of York, with some opportunities for research experience as a visiting scientist at UCL.

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

You will be a curious and collaborative individual with a first degree in a relevant STEM subject and a PhD in a subject related to blood cancer. You will have an interest in answering scientific questions that relate to human disease. You will have practical skills in a range of cell and molecular biology techniques. You will be quantitative and rigorous and have good data analysis skills. You will be comfortable presenting your findings in public and you will be able to write about your findings to a good standard. It will be advantageous if you can code in R.

Interview date: To be confirmed

For informal enquiries: please contact Adele Fielding by email at adele.fielding@york.ac.uk

The University strives to be diverse and inclusive – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University.

We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork