Overview
Postdoctoral Research Associate – Strand, London, WC2R 2LS
About us
The laboratory of Dr. Rushad Pavri at King’s College London is inviting applications for TWO postdoctoral positions for a project investigating the molecular mechanism by which DNA replication timing drives the biogenesis of tumorigenic chromosomal translocations.
Our lab studies the molecular mechanisms by which somatic hypermutation generates protective antibodies against pathogen and vaccine antigens, and how these mutagenic pathways trigger chromosomal rearrangements and genome instability in cancer. We have shown that DNA replication timing directly controls the frequency of tumorigenic Myc translocations (Peycheva et al., Science 2022) and revealed how higher-order chromatin architecture regulates somatic hypermutation and class switch recombination at immunoglobulin loci (Fitz et al. Nature Genetics 2020, Costea et al. and Schoeberl et al., Mol Cell 2023, Mol Cell 2025). For a list of ongoing projects and publications, please visit: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/pavri-group.
The lab is located within the School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences within the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, one of the UK’s largest biomedical research centres, ranked 9th globally for Life Sciences & Medicine (QS World University Rankings 2026), with 94.1% of its Research Excellence Framework (REF) submissions rated world-leading or internationally excellent.
About the role
Chromosomal translocations between proto-oncogenes and immunoglobulin genes are the defining lesions of mature B cell lymphomas including diffuse large B cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma. They arise as a byproduct of somatic hypermutation, when the enzyme activation-induced deaminase (AID) generates DNA double-strand breaks at immunoglobulin genes and major proto-oncogenes such as MYC and BCL6. We have shown that early DNA replication timing (RT) is a direct and necessary step in forming these translocations (Peycheva et. al., Science 2022). We have identified cis-regulatory elements whose deletion abolishes early RT and translocations without altering gene expression, raising the possibility of disrupting translocation biogenesis without compromising normal cell function.
This Cancer Research UK (CRUK)-funded project aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which early RT cis-regulatory elements drive translocation biogenesis. The two candidates will pursue interrelated aims using a shared set of techniques: identifying the factors that establish early RT at target genes, determining how they promote translocation biogenesis, and testing them in preclinical models. The work combines CRISPR engineering of B cells, protein biochemistry and genomics approaches including RT measurements, replication origin mapping, translocation-capture sequencing and 3D genome architectural analyses, supported by our established in-house computational pipelines.
Interested candidates should hold a PhD, or be close to completing one, in molecular biology, gene regulation, biochemistry, genetics, genome biology or a related biomedical field.
Previous experience with B cells, immunology or cancer biology is not essential. What we are looking for is rigorous mechanistic thinking, a curiosity-driven passion for the science, hands-on strength at the bench, a highly collaborative nature and the drive to take on an ambitious project in an unexplored and clinically significant area of biology and bring it to fruition.
For informal inquiries, contact Dr. Rushad Pavri at rushad.pavri@kcl.ac.uk .
This is a full-time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered an fixed term contract until 31/01/2030 with the possibility of extension.
Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.
About you
To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:
Essential criteria
- PhD in relevant biomedical science discipline or a PhD thesis that is nearing completion within the next few months.
- Strong publication record, as demonstrated by first author publication(s) in peer-reviewed journals (preprints will also be considered).
- Strong background in molecular biology and genomics.
- Knowledge of methods in biochemistry.
- Critical thinking skills.
- Ability to independently design and conduct experiments.
- Ability to present results professionally in written and oral form.
- Ability to work in a team.
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of gene regulation and/or DNA replication.
- Experience with genomics and next-generation sequencing.
- Basic bioinformatics skills.
Downloading a copy of our Job Description
Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.
* Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
