Research Associate (Fixed Term)

University of Cambridge

Department of Genetics

Location: Cambridge

Salary: 37,694 to 46,049 per annum

Hours: Full Time

Contract Type: Fixed-Term/Contract

Placed On: 25th September 2026

Closes: 21st October 2026

Job Ref: PC51194

How do mutant clones compete in healthy tissues as animals age, and how do some mammals suppress cancer across remarkably different lifespans and body sizes? The Cagan Lab is recruiting a Postdoctoral Research Associate to investigate these questions through comparative somatic genomics.

The Cagan Lab uses natural variation across species as a powerful experiment. Mammals differ dramatically in lifespan, body size, life history and cancer incidence. Comparing them can reveal the general rules of clonal evolution, expose lineage-specific solutions to cancer suppression, and provide a principled way to interpret emerging findings from human tissues.

This pioneering project will map age-related clonal dynamics across mammals with diverse lifespans and body-sizes including rodents, elephants and cetaceans. The aim is to uncover principles governing somatic evolution in mammals. Comparing somatic and germline tissues will reveal how clones arise and expand, which genes and pathways are selected, and how tissue context and species biology influence these processes.

The role is predominantly computational, with an experimental data-generation component and substantial intellectual ownership. You will combine high-depth error-corrected sequencing (NanoSeq), species-specific targeted gene panels, histology and quantitative evolutionary analysis. The balance of computational and experimental work will vary as the project develops.

Key responsibilities

Develop reproducible genomic workflows; call and quality-control somatic variants; quantify mutation rates and signatures; infer clone sizes and dynamics; and test for selection.
Design targeted gene panels and comparative analyses accounting for species, tissue, age, sex and sampling structure. Model clonal growth in relation to lifespan, body size, tissue architecture and cancer risk, including comparisons with human datasets.
Contribute to sample collection, histology, laser-capture microdissection and DNA extraction, with training and support. Maintain accurate sample metadata and quality-control records.
Collaborate with colleagues in Cambridge, at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and across partner institutions; prepare manuscripts and reusable data and code; present findings; and support students and junior colleagues.
Manage day-to-day work independently, communicate progress and risks, and help shape the project's scientific direction.

What the role offers

You will have substantial ownership of a comparative genomics project linking evolution, ageing and cancer biology, with access to diverse mammalian tissues and an interdisciplinary collaborative network. Training will include project-specific experimental methods and analysis of somatic clonal dynamics.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click the 'Apply' button above.

Informal enquiries are welcome and should be directed to Dr Alex Cagan,

atjc2@cam.ac.uk

Further information about the Cagan Group can be found here

https://www.gen.cam.ac.uk/cagan-group

Please quote reference PC51194 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

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