Applications are invited for a Research Fellow to work in the Synaptopathies collaboration of Professors Dimitri Kullmann, James E Rothman and Henry Houlden. The post holder will participate in an important international project investigating the genetic cause of common and rare diseases such as epilepsy, movement disorders such as ataxia and cognitive decline such as in dementia. Through the 100,000 genomes project and the UCL 15K rare disease cohort we have built up a significant and expanding, patient-based cohort of genomes and exomes that have enabled us to identify important genes such as GRIA2, RCF1, Neurofascin and VAMP2 with cellular models in these genes using iPSC, patch clamping and drosophila.
This has led to high impact publications, worldwide talks following the initial opening in the House of Lords in April 2019, and project start date of June 2019. The role will also involve working with the Neurogenetics research team at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology to identify and characterise disease genes, writing talks and working on publications.
The post is available immediately and is funded by a grant from Sparks for the period to January 2021 in the first instance.
Applicants must have a PhD or equivalent in Mathematics, Statistics, Biological Sciences or a related discipline and an honours degree (minimum 2.1 or equivalent) in Biological Sciences or a related discipline. Candidates must have training and an excellent background in bioinformatics, experience of working with exome and genome sequencing data and a background in molecular biology or human genetics. Good inter-personal skills with an ability to work co-operatively in a multidisciplinary setting, excellent oral and written communication skills, and strong problem-solving abilities are essential. Experience of GWAS and linkage analysis 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 £31,479 - £33,194 per annum 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.
For more information and to apply, please click here.
We will consider applications to work on a part-time, flexible and job share basis wherever possible.
Our department holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality.
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).
