About us

The Division of Biosciences at UCL is one of the world's foremost centres for research and teaching in the biological sciences. We have an outstanding international reputation and a community of over 500 staff and more than 300 PhD students engaged in cutting edge research and collaboration.

Further information can be found on our website https://www.ucl.ac.uk/biosciences

We are seeking an enthusiastic researcher with a background in evo-devo/functional genomics to join the group of Dr. Sean Stankowski. The position is well funded through a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship.

About the role

The Research Fellow will play a lead role in an ambitious project to reconstruct the evolutionary pathway between different reproductive modes in Littorina. (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adi2982). Specifically, they will lead a strand of the project focused on understanding the molecular and developmental basis underlying a recent transition from egg-laying to live-bearing in this system. They will take responsibility for designing and implementing the experimental strategy using various approaches, potentially including bulk and single cell RNAseq, in situ hybridisation, chromatin accessibility assays, and proteomics. The project will be supported by a research technician.

The researcher will work as part of a team and in collaboration with project partners from UCL (Paola Oliveri), the Sanger Institute (Dr. Joana Meier), the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (Dr. Nick Barton), The University of Gothenburg (Dr. Kerstin Johannesson and Dr. Erical Leder) and the University of Göttingen (Dr. Daniel Jackson).

• This role is an open-ended contract of three years with the possibility of extension.
• Appointment at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be at Grade 6B (salary £39,148 - £41,833 per annum) with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD Thesis.
• This role is eligible for hybrid working with a minimum of 50% on site.

A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

Interviews will be held in June 2026.

If you have any queries about the role, please contact Sean Stankowski at s.stankowski@ucl.ac.uk.

If you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online or have any queries about the application process, please contact the HR Administrator (fls.hr@ucl.ac.uk) stating the advert reference number in the subject line.

About you

Applicants must hold a PhD in a relevant field and have a strong theoretical understanding of molecular and developmental biology, and experience using approaches such as single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, in situ hybridisation, differential expression analyses, chromatin accessibility assays, and proteomics. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated ability to design and conduct research independently, and be organised, creative, and collaborative. Experience in integrating multiple data types to address biological questions, is highly desirable. An interest in the developmental and genetic basis of reproductive differences, experience working on molluscs would be advantageous.

What we offer

We will support your professional development to help you achieve your long-term goals and will provide access to training courses and international and domestic conferences. The position will include time to develop and peruse your own research interests, and includes opportunities to work with and visit project partners at other research institutions. VISA

The UCL Ways of Working supports colleagues to be successful and happy at UCL through sharing expectations around how we work – please https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/policies-advice/ways-working to find out more.

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Immigration loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

Our division holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality.

You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/