Research Fellow (UCL)

3 May 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

UK Dementia Research Institute

Research Field

Neurosciences

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Country

United Kingdom

Application Deadline

2 Jun 2024 - 17:00 (Europe/London)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

37.5

Offer Starting Date

1 Jul 2024

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Reference Number

B02-06902

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Dementia is the greatest health challenge of our century.

 

To date there is no way to prevent it or even slow its progression, and there is an urgent need to fill the knowledge gap in our basic understanding of the diseases that cause it.

 

The UK Dementia Research Institute  (UK DRI) is the biggest UK initiative supporting research to fill the major knowledge gap in our basic understanding of the diseases that cause dementia.

 

Research from UK DRI at UCL covers the journey from the patient to the laboratory and back to the patient with improved diagnosis, biomarkers and candidate therapies put to the test. Led by Professor Karen Duff, UK DRI Centre Director, the team addresses the key unanswered mechanistic questions that link genetic and lifecourse factors to dysfunction in molecular pathways, in cells and in neural systems during the progression of the dementias. This work will be enhanced by clinical resource to link lab work to the clinic.

The Krupic Lab aims to understand how accumulation of Tau and amyloid-beta pathology affects hippocampal-entorhinal neural networks and cognitive functions in age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. We employ cutting-edge neural recording techniques such as in vivo Neuropixels and two-photon imaging in behaving mice. We also develop and employ state-of-the-art behavioural techniques such as smart-Kages for comprehensive assessment of an animal’s naturalistic behaviours and virtual environments combined with neural recordings; and develop analogous tasks for humans to identify the digital biomarkers to facilitate early AD diagnostics. Finally, we use computational approaches to model the underlying mechanisms of EC-HP function and disease progression.

 

About the role

We are looking for a highly motivated, experienced, and self-driven Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join the Krupic Lab and study how spatial memory and the ability to navigate to the goal are affected in the Tau- and amyloid-beta- Alzheimer’s disease mouse models and how these changes correlate with neural and synaptic functions of the medial entorhinal-hippocampal neurons. We are especially keen to develop a stronger analytical and theoretical background for understanding the changes in neural dynamics related to the progression of Tau and/or Amyloid pathology.

The role is available from available from 05 August 2024 and is funded by the UK DRI until 31 May 2025 in the first instance.

Requirements

Research Field

Neurosciences

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

You will hold a PhD in neuroscience or a related subject and have significant experience with in vivo electrophysiological recordings and data analysis in behaving mice, and good proven programming skills with MATLAB or Python as well as good knowledge of statistics and complex neural data analysis. Excellent experience performing in vivo surgeries, such as chronic implantation of multi-tetrodes, Neuropixels, or similar, along with maintaining mice during the chronic experience, pre- and post-surgery is also essential.

This role meets the eligibility requirements for a skilled worker certificate of sponsorship or a global talent visa under UK Visas and Immigration legislation. Therefore, UCL welcomes applications from international applicants who require a visa.

Additional Information
Benefits
What we offer

 

Starting salary offered in the range of £42,099 - £44,347 per annum, inclusive of London Allowance.

Appointment as Research Fellow is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be as Research Assistant (salary £37,332 - £39,980 per annum) with appointment as Research Fellow being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis.

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer 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.

We will consider applications to work on a part-time, flexible, and job share basis wherever possible

UCL offers a range of excellent staff benefits, including a pension scheme with generous employer contributions, 27 days of annual leave for full time staff plus additional bank holidays and closure days, family-friendly policies and enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental pay.

 

Please visit the UCL website for a full list of all benefits available to staff: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/pay-benefits/staff-benefits .

Additional comments
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The Institute prides itself on operating in an all-inclusive environment irrespective of personal, physical, or social characteristics. Teamwork is highly valued, individual strengths are recognised and celebrated, and we are committed to advancing the careers of everyone. 12% of Institute staff are actively working on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives; visit our EDI website  for more information about our initiatives and priorities. The Institute also holds an Athena SWAN Silver award , in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality. 

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+ and gender diverse people in all roles, and women in Grade 9 and 10 roles. 

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

UK DRI at UCL

Country

United Kingdom

City

London

Postal Code

WC1E 6BT

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/search-ucl-jobs/details?nPostingId=9758&nPost…

Contact

City

London

Website

https://ukdri.ac.uk/

Street

6th Floor, UCL Maple House, Tottenham Court Road

Postal Code

W1T 7NF

STATUS: EXPIRED