Postdoctoral Researcher in Psychiatric Genomics

We are looking to appoint a postdoctoral research assistant to work on a project funded by a UKRI Medical Research Council Core Platform grant for the Platform “CHECKPOINT: Finding immune and metabolic pathways to severe mental illness”.  The project aims to find causal pathways by which immune and metabolic factors lead to severe mental illness, as a basis for new, personalised therapeutics that are precisely matched to the patients most likely to benefit.   The post is based in the Big Data Institute, University of Oxford.

The post is for a fixed term (funded for 4 years) and is full-time although consideration would be given to candidates wishing to work part-time (minimum 60% FTE) on a pro rata basis with appropriate adjustment of duties.

Reporting to Professor Naomi Wray, you will work closely with the wider CHECKPOINT team to conduct research that addresses the goals of the CHECKPOINT programme. You will collate, integrate and analyse omics data sets that could address the hypothesis that immune and metabolism dysfunction is causal for severe mental illness in some people.  In particular, the CMAP and L1000 data sets will be interrogated to identify drugs that are relevant to SMI and immune/metabolic pathways. You will also have the freedom to determine your own research approaches within this broad framework.

You will have or be close to the completion of a PhD in statistical/computational genomics with relevant experience.  You will have excellent communication skills, including the ability to independently write for publication, present research proposals and results, and represent the research network at meetings.   Specialist knowledge in the discipline and the ability to manage your own academic research is essential.  Knowledge of or an interest in psychiatric genomics or the biology of immune and metabolic pathways would be desirable.

You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement and a CV as part of your application.

The closing date for this post is 12.00 midday on 10 May 2024.