Research Assistant - Luisi Group (Fixed Term)

About the role

The Department of Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge is seeking a Research Assistant for the Luisi Group, working in Professor Ben Luisi's laboratory under the supervision of Dr Pedro Rebelo-Guiomar. The post focuses on developing methods for delivering nucleic acids into mitochondria, and is supported by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA). It is a full-time, 37-hour-week fixed-term position based in Central Cambridge, with funding available from 15 January 2027 to 5 December 2027.

Key responsibilities

• Maintain cultures of human cell lines and generate new cell lines, including associated molecular biology work.
• Support the research activities of the Luisi Group in studying nucleic acid delivery to mitochondria.
• Experience in expression and purification of recombinant proteins and/or bioinformatics processing and analysis of RNA-seq data is desirable.

Required profile

• BSc, MSc or PhD in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology or adjacent areas.
• Laboratory experience, preferably in mitochondrial biology research or adjacent areas.
• Excellent communication, organisation and teamwork skills, and ability to work independently once trained on protocols.

Required skills

• Mammalian cell culture and associated techniques.
• Molecular cloning and other fundamental molecular techniques.
• Recombinant protein expression and purification.
• Bioinformatics (RNA-seq data processing and analysis).

Applicants apply online through the University's recruitment system, quoting reference PH51221. The closing date is 11 November 2026.