Single Cell and Spatial Lead (Senior Scientific Associate) Genomics Core

Department/location: Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute

Salary: £35,116-£45,413

Reference: SW46820

Closing date: 20 August 2025

The CRUK Cambridge Institute (CI), a department of the University of Cambridge, is one of Europe's top cancer research institutes. We are situated on the Addenbrooke's Biomedical Campus and are part of both the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, and the CRUK Cambridge Centre. The Institute is home to 18 research groups which cover a spectrum of research from basic experimental and computational cancer biology through translational cancer research to clinical application. The Institute's scientific Core Facilities work in partnership with the Institute's Research Groups and are a repository for deep technological expertise and knowledge, playing a fundamental role at the heart of the Institute's research community.

The CI Genomics Core (CIGC) provides Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) services for CRUK CI as well as the wider University and collaborative laboratories across The Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The CIGC supports translational research by providing a variety of single cell library prep services using but not limited to 10X Genomics workflows, bulk DNA/RNA library preps and sequencing services (MiSeq, MiSeq i100, NextSeq2000, NovaSeqX Plus, ONT PromethION24). We support cell isolation using CellenOne for downstream single cell applications and currently expanding the portfolio of spatial single cell platforms offering 10X Visium SD, 10X Visium HD and 10X Xenium etc.

You'll be joining us at an exciting time as we continue to expand our genomics service encompassing ever larger scale genomics projects, and continue to develop our utilisation and innovation of sequencing technologies, library preparation methods, single cell and spatial techniques; providing genomic data for CRUK CI and the University of Cambridge. Genomics is our passion and generating exceptionally high-quality data to translate research is our mission. This is a senior post in our team, and you'll have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the science in our Institute.

This Single Cell and Spatial Lead role is predominantly management of single cell sequencing and spatial services that involves communication with a large userbase regarding single cell sequencing and spatial requirements, data provision, experimental design as well as evaluating/implementing new multiomics single cell and spatial platforms.

The role holder will act independently to provide single cell service including project management, scientific and technical support, training to other team members and members of research groups including research assistants, associates, clinical fellows and PhD students. The Single Cell and Spatial Lead role equally requires the individual to be hands-on in the laboratory providing the single cell service in addition to delivering advice on single cell / spatial project experimental design, technical support, training, intellectual input for single cell and spatial data analysis, single cell optimisation and technological innovation. This will ideally suit a candidate adept at responding to continual change in genomics workflows and developments, matching these with the requirements placed on the Genomics Core.

About you: Educated to PhD level or with equivalent experience in a genomics laboratory, you will have extensive hands-on laboratory experience in single cell/spatial and NGS library prep, ability to interpret single cell sequencing data and spatial datasets for quality control and troubleshooting. You have excellent communication skills and can work closely on project design, interacting with staff at all levels as well as externally with other University Departments. You can advise the Head of Genomics on the latest equipment, genomics applications and best practices, you can lead on project prioritisation, managing and escalating troubleshooting issues, and respond to requests from the most senior Institute or collaboration staff.

This is a single cell and spatial management role where you will be directly responsible for the efficient operation of those services, including resource scheduling, procurement, lab management, and staff management. Extensive experience of single cell technologies: variety of 10x Genomics workflows, Parse, etc. and spatial workflows: 10X Visium HD, 10X Xenium is essential. Experience with bulk DNA/RNA library preps and NGS short and long read sequencing (Illumina, ONT) is highly desirable. So too is the use of automation for high throughput library prep of the latest liquid handlers used in genomics.

You will keep up to date with advances in single-cell and spatial genomics and NGS technologies, and can contribute to the production of research papers as necessary and present at relevant scientific conferences and meetings (posters, talks).

The closing date for applications is 20th of August 2025

Interviews are expected to be held on the 4th-5th September 2025.

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Please include details of your referees, including email address and phone number, one of which must be your most recent line manager.

Please quote reference SW46820 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

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