Postdoctoral Research Assistant - UOD1587

We are looking for an ambitious post-doctoral research fellow who will work in an interdisciplinary, collaborative project between Dr Nirujogi’s laboratory at MRC-Protein Phosphorylation Unit, University of Dundee and Prof Siddharthan Chandran / Dr Selvaraj at UKDementia Research Institute at University of Edinburgh.

The project aims to identify and develop novel biomarkers for Motor Neuron Disease and related neurodegenerative diseases by exploiting deeply curated patient cohorts from Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (Edinburgh) and quantitative proteomics by apply state-of-the-art Mass Spectrometry technologies (Dundee).

The post-holder will have opportunity to work in both labs at University of Dundee and Edinburgh. This post is ideally serves as a springboard for those motivated to pursue for independent career fellowships or industry career in future. Our recent publications on this area (PMID: Nirujogi et al., Biochem J, 2021; Fan et al., Acta neuropathol, 2021, Banerjee et al., Science Advances, 2023). The post holder will closely interact with a multidisciplinary team of translational neuroscientists, MND clinicians, drug discovery experts to translate identified biomarkers to MND-SMART clinical trial. We will employ cutting edge transcriptomics and proteomics on state-of-the-art Orbitrap Astral and tims-TOF SCP mass spectrometers and proteogenomic analysis in developing multiplexed targeted PRM assays in clinical samples. This is a fixed-term appointment for 36 months. Enthusiastic candidate should have recently completed a PhD with a strong background and interest in neurodegeneration and mass spectrometry-based proteomics.

Your priorities will include:

• Undertaking research aimed at developing a compendium of TDP-43 mediated cryptic exons/peptides in human primary macrophages and clinical samples by employing transcriptomic, quantitative proteomic and proteogenomic analysis.
• Project development and implementation by performing primary cell culture, sample preparation for mass spectrometry analysis. Development of Parallel Reaction Monitoring assays for cryptic peptides.
• Integration of transcriptomic and proteomic data to perform proteogenomic analysis and bioinformatic analysis. 
• Serum/plasma sample proteomic preparation, quantitative proteomic data acquisition and data analysis.
• Working closely with other lab members and collaborators and able to present and discuss scientific work at group meetings and scientific conference and meetings with external collaborators.

Who we’re looking for:

• PhD with an outstanding track record with clear evid ence of at least one first-authored publication in an internationally recognized peer-reviewed journal • Strong enthusiasm to neurobiology and neurodegeneration. Strong background in Quantitative proteomics using High-resolution mass spectrometry including sample preparation and database searches using MS-Fragger, DIA-NN and Skyline software suites.
• Prior experience in developing PRM assay is advantageous but not essential.
• Experience with R or Python and able to write, modify and implement published code and packages for data analysis and visualization.
• Excellent communication and proficiency in English.

For further information about this position please contact Raja Nirujogi (Email: rnirujogi@dundee.ac.uk)

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