Research Assistant

The successful candidate will work as a Research Assistant on a 4-year SFI-funded preclinical neuroimaging project aimed at identifying the neurodevelopmental origins of sex differences in depression. Depression is the leading cause of illness and disability, worldwide. It is rooted in stress-linked disruption of brain function and affects twice as many women as men. This disparity begins in adolescence and continues throughout the reproductive life cycle, telling us that both sex and development matter for our understanding of depression. Yet, most preclinical research on stress-linked psychopathology is conducted in adult male rodents. This reduces the translational validity of preclinical work, impedes progress in diagnostics and treatments, and disadvantages women. This project aims to address these issues by identifying how stress disrupts brain development in both male and female rodents. The Research assistant will work as a team that spans two labs (Clare Kelly and Andrew Harkin at TCIN). They will assist in the performance of longitudinal functional MRI studies to track brain development in male and female rats. These studies will also examine how chronic stress affects brain development, how those effects are altered by treatment, and how effects differ between males and females. By using non-invasive fMRI methods, the study will provide a direct translational bridge to humans. 

The post is funded for 2 years, beginning in June 2024.

About Trinity:

Trinity is Ireland’s leading university and is ranked 81st in the world (QS World University Rankings 2024). Founded in 1592, the University is steeped in history with a reputation for excellence in education, research, and innovation, which has been inspiring generations of thinkers for over 400 years. Trinity College Dublin- an introduction 

Salary: This appointment will be made on the Research Assistant Salary Scale (€31,150 –41,033 per annum) at a point in line with current Government pay policy. monthly/weekly payscales. (tcd.ie)The appointment will be made no higher than point 1. 

Hours: 35 Hours per week 

Application Procedure 

Applicants should submit a full Curriculum Vitae to include the names and contact details of 2 referees (including email addresses), to Dr Clare Kelly; [email protected].

At Trinity, we are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Trinity welcomes applications from all individuals, including those applicants with disabilities, those who may have had non-traditional career paths, those who have taken time out for reasons including family or caring responsibilities. We also welcome international applicants including those whom have been displaced due to war.

Trinity College Dublin is Ireland’s premier University. We are an EU Sustainable Gender Equality Champion and we hold an Athena Swan Silver award, recognising our ongoing work to advance gender equality both within Trinity and in the Higher Education sector. Trinity is committed to supporting work-life balance and to creating a family-friendly working environment.