Postdoctoral Research Associate (Honorary Resident Doctor) (Fixed Term)

Salary: £40,190-£76,582

Closing date: 01 November 2026 

This is a unique opportunity to carry out a period of clinical postdoctoral research focused on developing and validating new treatments and biomarkers for mitochondrial disorders, as part of a national rare disease centre.  The post is specifically aimed at practicing clinicians with a PhD and relevant specialty training, who have extensive prior clinical and research experience with neuromuscular or neurogenetic conditions.  

The Cambridge Clinical Mitochondrial Research Group (MitoCAMB) studies the genetic basis, clinical presentation and molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial diseases and other rare inherited neurodegenerative/neuromuscular disorders. Our research group is embedded within the Department of Clinical Neurosciences and the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge.

The group was awarded a £7.5 million LifeArc Translational Rare Disease Centres Award with our partners at UCL, the University of Newcastle, The Lily Foundation and MDUK.  Together, we have established a national platform to translate novel treatment strategies and biomarkers into clinical trials. This platform will improve mitochondrial disease diagnosis nation-wide, connecting patient groups, knowledge and infrastructure to accelerate the clinical translation of new treatments. 

The post-holder will support and drive several ongoing and new academic-led and commercial studies/clinical trials in mitochondrial and neurodegenerative diseases. They will receive supervision and training where required but will be expected to have a high level of independence and enthusiasm to proactively take responsibility for ongoing and new clinical studies. This will also give them the opportunity to develop clinical, laboratory and computational skills that would underpin their own emerging research programme. The post-holder will have the opportunity to participate in the mitochondrial/neurogenetics NHS clinic at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and additional NHS services. 

The successful applicant must have a PhD and have completed general medical training, hold MRCP or equivalent, and preferably be a registered medical practitioner permitted to practise in the UK or be willing to work towards this.  We encourage applications from any medical specialty and from any career grade, but clear evidence of prior clinical and research interest in neuromuscular or neurogenetic conditions is desirable.  

Informal enquiries are welcome and should be sent to Professor Patrick Chinnery, Dr Jelle van den Ameele or Professor Rita Horvath: pfc25@medschl.cam.ac.uk, jv361@medschl.cam.ac.uk or rh732@medschl.cam.ac.uk 

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance. 

To apply online for this vacancy or view further information about the role, please visit :

http://www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/57260. 

This is an integrated appointment between the University and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust ("NHS Trust").  You will therefore be issued with an Honorary Clinical Contract by the NHS Trust. You should be aware that if your contract with the NHS Trust is terminated your employment with the University will be terminated, and vice versa. 

Please ensure that you upload a covering letter, CV and completed Additional Information Form in the Upload section of the online application. If you upload additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application. 

Please include details of your referees, one of which must be your most recent line manager. 

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. 

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.