The Laboratory of Neuromuscular Diseases is seeking a full-time Research Fellow to investigate the role of cardiolipin (CL) in mtDNA replication and mitochondrial division. This will be achieved by studying CL metabolism and PL trafficking pathways in mutant and knockout TRIAP1 fibroblasts and mutant TRIAP1 human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived myoblasts. The principal activities will include cell culture (fibroblasts, iPSCs), CRIPR/Cas9, PCR and DNA sequencing (Sanger and NGS), lipidomics and proteomics (SiLAC and BioID), mass spectrometry, imaging techniques (confocal and super-resolution microscopy, live cell imaging and electron microscopy), and molecular and cell biology (Western blot, BN-PAGE, Seahorse, oxygraph, subcellular fractionation, spectrophotometric assays, Southern blot/long PCR).
The candidate will be supervised directly by Dr Robert Pitceathly, but will work as part of a team of researchers who have varying responsibilities within an integrated program at UCL. Dr Julien Prudent will help supervise any work undertaken at the MRC MBU, Cambridge. Consequently, the post holder will develop new skills by working closely with experimental biologists in exciting interdisciplinary environments with world-leading expertise in mitochondrial biology and mitochondrial diseases.
There is an opportunity to gain experience in some laboratory techniques, including aspects of mitochondrial cell biology and analysis of membrane contact sites, at the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit (MBU), University of Cambridge.
The successful candidate will have an Honours degree (minimum 2:1) in a related discipline and a PhD in a relevant subject (cellular/molecular biology, neuroscience or a related subject). Strong knowledge and experience of cell culture, molecular cell biology and microscopy (confocal and super-resolution microscopy) is required. Good inter-personal skills with an ability to work co-operatively in a multidisciplinary setting are essential. Experience with super-resolution microscopy, electron microscopy and iPS cell culture and knowledge in mitochondrial cell biology are desirable.
The post is available from 1 March 2019 and is funded from the Medical Research Council for three years in the first instance.
The post is graded as Grade 7, and the starting salary is £35,328 per annum (including London Allowance). 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 £30,922 - £32,607 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.
You should apply for this post through UCL's online recruitment – http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hr/jobs where you can download a job description and person specification using ref: 1791582.
For further information please contact Oksana Shapoval, HR Officer, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, 23 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG (email: ion.hradmin@ucl.ac.uk).
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Oksana Shapoval: ion.hradmin@ucl.ac.uk
