Applications are invited for a Research Fellow in the Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy. The mission of the Department is to transform the lives of people living with epilepsy for the better by identifying, understanding and correcting or preventing the underlying mechanisms leading to the epilepsies and associated comorbidities in each individual person.
The post holder will design, optimize and validate molecular tools to manipulate the excitability of neurons and brain circuits. The project will advance fundamental neuroscience and the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders. It will feed into a programme of research into gene therapy for refractory epilepsy, with a view to clinical translation. It will be supervised by Professor D M Kullmann.
The post is available immediately and is funded by a grant from the Medical Research Council for the period to 31 March 2024 in the first instance
Key Requirements
Applicants should have (or be close to obtaining) a PhD or equivalent in molecular or cellular neuroscience or a related discipline.
Experience of molecular pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, molecular modelling, and/or cellular electrophysiology is essential, as is a deep understanding of G-protein coupled receptor signalling.
Expertise in cell-based arrays, immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy, IT proficiency at advanced user level, excellent oral and written communication skills, good inter-personal skills with an ability to work co-operatively in a multidisciplinary setting, and strong problem-solving abilities are also required.
Experience of working with viral vectors is desirable.
Appointment at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be at research assistant Grade 6B (salary £32,217 - £33,958 per annum) with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis. If the PhD has not yet been granted, the final accepted version of the thesis must have been submitted to the degree-granting university by the start date in post.
