Research Fellow UCL

Vacancy Reference Number

B02-06419

Closing Date

14 Feb 2024

Salary

£42,099–£50,585

Address

UK DRI at UCL, Queen Square

Duration

The availability of the position is flexible, i.e., immediately or start date falling anywhere in 2024, depending on the candidate. The post is funded by the UK DRI for one year in the first instance

About the job

Dementia is the greatest health challenge of our century.

To date 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 supporting research to fill the major knowledge gap in our basic understanding of the diseases that cause dementia.

Research from UK DRI at UCL covers the journey from the patient to the laboratory and back to the patient with improved diagnosis, biomarkers and candidate therapies put to the test. Led by Professor Karen Duff, UK DRI Centre Director, the team addresses the key unanswered mechanistic questions that link genetic and lifecourse factors to dysfunction in molecular pathways, in cells and in neural systems during the progression of the dementias. This work will be enhanced by clinical resource to link lab work to the clinic.

The Hong lab aims to understand whether, and if so, how neuro-glia-immune mechanisms confer region-specific synapse vulnerability in age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. We aim to elucidate intercellular interactions between immune cells (microglia, perivascular macrophages, T/B-cells), astrocytes, and vulnerable neurons, and how cell-cell neuroimmune crosstalk within and across brain borders can modulate synaptic fate. We employ cutting-edge single-cell and spatial transcriptomic and proteomic tools, super-resolution microscopy imaging techniques and hypothesis-driven mechanistic approaches using various in vitro and in vivo mouse models, hIPSC, and human patient tissues.

About the role

We are recruiting a Research Fellow to join the Hong lab and study neuro-glia-immune interactions in neurodegeneration. Our lab utilises a variety of cutting-edge tools including single-cell and spatial transcriptomics and proteomics, in vivo cell type-specific manipulation using viral and genetic targeting, super-resolution microscopy, FACS, behavioural testing, and cell biology/primary culture/hIPSC approaches. Approaches for the project will be tailored to the specific questions being asked, but all relevant training will be given and career development is actively encouraged.

We pride in a positive, interdependent, and mentoring working team spirit of the lab, so we are looking for candidates who are mature and collaborative while maintaining independent thinking, ambition, and initiative.

The availability of the position is flexible, i.e., immediately or start date falling anywhere in 2024, depending on the candidate. The post is funded by the UK DRI for one year in the first instance with possibility of extension.

Essential Criteria

You’ll have a PhD (or be due to complete in the next six months), MD, or equivalent experience, and knowledge and experience in performing high quality research in Neuroscience, Neurobiology, Neuroimmunology Biology, or a closely related health field. You’ll have good problem solving abilities, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to execute a programme of experiments through design and improvement stages to data curation and publication. Proficiency in one of the following skills and techniques is also essential: optical imaging, FACS, biochemistry, omics, in vivo rodent surgeries, CRISPR targeting, hIPSC cell culture, fate mapping studies, or bioinformatics.

This role meets the eligibility requirements for a skilled worker certificate of sponsorship or a global talent visa under UK Visas and Immigration legislation. Therefore, UCL welcomes applications from international applicants who require a visa.

Contact Information

To apply visit here.

Informal enquiries regarding the role can be addressed to Dr Soyon Hong (soyon.hong@ucl.ac.uk).