Research Assistant in the Cortical Processing Laboratory at UCL

Vacancy Reference Number
1866760
Closing Date
3 Jun 2020
Salary
£31,479 to £33,194 per annum inclusive of London Allowance
Address
Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London
Duration
1 year in the first instance

Duties and Responsibilities

Applications are invited for the position of Research Assistant in the Cortical Processing Laboratory at University College London, led by Profs Kenneth Harris (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology) and Matteo Carandini (UCL Institute of Ophthalmology).

The laboratory investigates how the cerebral cortex processes sensory information and integrates it with information from within the brain. Further details about the laboratory may be found at http://www.cortexlab.net.

The Research Assistant will be in charge of a variety of lab techniques. This includes:

  • molecular methods for large-scale analysis of gene expression in brain tissue
  • acquiring daily behavioural measurements of perceptual decisions in mice
  • designing and building lab equipment and software.

The appointee will not only apply the methods currently used in the laboratory, but also work creatively to improve their efficacy and expand their reach. The post holder will also assist the Laboratory Manager and other members of the group performing a variety of experiments such as immunohistochemistry, microscopy, and development of hardware/software for experimental controls.

The post is available immediately and is funded by a grant from the EU for one year in the first instance.

Key Requirements

The successful applicant will hold a BSc or equivalent qualification in a relevant discipline (Neuroscience, Molecular Biology, Physiology, Medicine, Physics, Engineering, or a related field), and will have relevant laboratory experience.

An ability to interact successfully with others, and to learn new procedures and techniques and perform them precisely is essential.

The ideal candidate must be able to prioritise own work in response to deadlines and to organise own work without extensive supervision.

Good inter-personal skills with an ability to work co-operatively in a multidisciplinary setting and IT proficiency at advanced user level (Spreadsheet, Word Processing, Database, Email, Web based applications) are also required.

Experience working with molecular biology, particularly RNA, would be desirable, as would computer programming ability (MATLAB, Python, C++), a Home Office Personal Licence, experience with rodent behaviour, or lab techniques such as immunocytochemistry and microscopy.

For more information and to apply, please click here 

Contact Details

If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact Oksana Shapoval, HR Officer, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, 23 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG (email: ion.hradmin@ucl.ac.uk).