Research Associate (Cardiff)

Vacancy Reference Number

17562BR

Closing Date

3 Jan 2024

Salary

£39347 - £44263 per annum (Grade 6). Appointments to roles at Cardiff University are usually made at bottom of scale unless in exceptional circumstances.

Address

UK DRI at UK DRI at Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF14 4XN

Duration

This post is full-time (35 hours per week), available from 1st January 2024 and fixed term until 30th December 2026.

About the Job

UK DRI is seeking an enthusiastic Research Associate to join the team. The successful candidate will work with our novel Alzheimer’s disease high endocytic polygenic risk iPSC lines and use them to investigate disease mechanisms. The project will also include collaboration with Prof Steve Finkbeiner’s (UCSF) group to develop novel image analysis techniques.  The successful candidate will work together with others in the lab to collect experimental data and to analyse the data. They will be highly independent and will drive the project to its fruitful completion.

Dementia is the greatest health challenge of our century. 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 driving forward research to fill this gap. The UK DRI is a joint £290 million investment from the Medical Research Council (MRC), Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK. Centred on the need for innovative, early-stage science to advance our understanding of how dementias develop and progress, the UK DRI’s research will bring new therapies to patients faster.

The Institute’s mission is to find new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent dementias, whilst finding better ways to provide care for people with dementia.?The UK DRI at Cardiff is one of 7 UK centres bringing together world-leading scientists to deliver a step-change in the scientific understanding of dementia, generating new targets for drug development, reinvigorating the therapeutic pipeline and helping to transform care.

Dr Connor-Robson’s group centres on the use of cutting-edge induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models to study the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases with particular focus on endocytic dysfunction. The group studies neurons, microglia and astrocytes both in mono and coculture settings. The lab aims to translate the complex genetic landscape of Alzheimer’s disease into a better understanding of cellular and molecular changes that occur during disease. We hope to translate our findings into better drug targets and therapeutic strategies. 

Job Purpose

To conduct research within molecular mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s disease using novel iPSC models and contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University, carrying out research leading to the publishing of high-quality research. To pursue excellence in research and to inspire others to do the same. 

Key Duties

Research 

• To conduct research within the molecular mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s disease and contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University by the production of measurable outputs including bidding for funding, publishing in national academic journals and conferences, and the recruitment and supervision of postgraduate research students.  
• To develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research including research funding proposals.
• To attend and or present at conferences/seminars at a local and national level as required.
• To undertake administrative tasks associated with the research project, including the planning and organisation of the project and the implementation of procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
• To prepare research ethics and research governance applications as appropriate.
• To review and synthesise existing research literature within the field.
• To participate in School research activities. 
• To build and create networks both internally and externally to the university, to influence decisions,   explore future research requirements, and share research ideas for the benefit of research projects.
• To carry out iPSC microglial differentiations and perform in depth phenotypic characterisation of the endolysosomal pathway.

Other

• To engage effectively with industrial, commercial and public sector organisations, professional institutions, other academic institutions etc., regionally and nationally  to raise awareness of the School’s profile, to cultivate strategically valuable alliances, and to pursue opportunities for collaboration across a range of activities. These activities are expected to contribute to the School and the enhancement of its regional and national profile.
• To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.
• To participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world.

Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education

• Postgraduate degree at PhD level in a related subject area or equivalent or relevant industrial experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• An established expertise and proven portfolio of research and/or relevant industrial experience within the following research fields:

a. Neurodegeneration 

b. Induced pluripotent stem cell models

• Knowledge of current status of research in specialist field (as described above).
• Proven ability to publish in national/international journals or other research outputs.
• Knowledge and understanding of competitive research funding to be able to develop applications to funding bodies.

Communication and Team Working

• Proven ability in effective and persuasive communication.
• Ability to supervise the work of others to focus team efforts and motivate individuals.

 Other

• Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and team-working within work.
• Proven ability to work without close supervision.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of iPSC culture or iPSC microglial differentiations.
• Experience of molecular biology techniques.
• Experience of immunocytochemistry techniques, live imaging and fluorescent microscopy.
• Experience of assays to characterise endocytic and/or autophagy pathways.
• Evidence of collaborations with industry.
• Proven ability to adapt to the changing requirements of the Higher Education community. 
• Evidence of ability to participate in and develop both internal and external networks and utilise them to enhance the research activities of the School.

Contact Information

To apply visit here.

For any informal enquiries regarding this vacancy please contact Natalie Connor-Robson at connor-robsonnl@cardiff.ac.uk