Dementia is the greatest challenge of this 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 driving forward research to fill this gap.
We are a globally leading multidisciplinary research institute of 700 staff investigating the spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders causing dementia, with laboratory-based research groups located at University College London, the University of Cambridge, Cardiff University, Edinburgh University, Imperial College London and King's College London.
UCL's strength in combining excellent clinical and basic neuroscience research to advance our understanding of neurodegeneration and identify novel targets and therapeutic approaches for dementia resulted in its selection as the hub of the UK DRI. Research from UK DRI at UCL covers the journey from the person living with dementia to the laboratory and back again - with improved diagnosis and potential therapies put to the test. The groups believe in intervening earlier in disease in order to change the trajectory.
Applications are invited for a Research Technician post based in the Dementia Research Institute (DRI) Fluid Biomarker Laboratory (FBL), which collaborates with laboratories working on neurodegeneration nationally and internationally and has multiple sensitive platforms for biomarker measurements. The Lab also curates a biobank of fluid samples, such as serum, plasma and cerebrospinal fluid, from patient volunteers covering the whole spectrum of neurodegenerative disease.
The main DRI FBL is within the DRI at UCL and is part of the Department of Neurodegenerative Disease (DND) at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology. The laboratory works closely with the UCL Dementia Research Centre (DRC). The DRC, also part of the DND, is a clinical research unit focusing on identifying and understanding the disease processes that cause dementia and helping to find new treatments. Collection, processing and storage of fluid biomarkers are crucial to these aims. The appointee will link between the DRC and the FBL. The post holder’s primary role will be to process and database incoming biomarker samples collected by Queen Square researchers and to take responsibility for high quality data management and governance in relation to these samples.
Person Criteria
Applicants must have a BSc in a Biomedical subject or equivalent experience, general laboratory competence and ability to use basic lab equipment, such as centrifuge and pipette. Experience with databases, excellent organisational skills and experience of this in past roles, good IT skills are a requirement, as are excellent oral and written communication skills to ensure the smooth running of the biobanking/sample service aspect of the role. Candidates must have good inter-personal skills with an ability to work co-operatively in a multidisciplinary setting and be meticulous and accurate in all aspects of work. Experience in molecular biology laboratory is desirable.
Who to contact
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).
