Research Fellow

About us

The Division of Biosciences at UCL is one of the world's foremost centres for research and teaching in the biological sciences. We have an outstanding international reputation and a community of over 500 staff and more than 300 PhD students engaged in cutting edge research and collaboration.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Smart Lab in the Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology at UCL. We are part of a Wellcome Trust Collaborative Group formed of 5 labs that also includes: Elizabeth Fisher, UCL Institute of Neurology; John O’Keefe, UCL Sainsbury-Welcome Centre; Dean Nizetic, Queen Mary University London; and Victor Tybulewicz, The Francis Crick Institute.

The project involves cutting edge research into the dysfunction of inhibitory neurotransmission and adult neurogenesis in Down syndrome.

About the role

Your main duties in the lab will be to conduct experiments on novel mouse models of Down syndrome to explore the mechanisms underlying dysfunction in inhibitory neurotransmission and adult neurogenesis. These experiments will entail electrophysiology on brain slices as well as immunohistochemistry and imaging to explore newly developing neuronal and glial cells. The role requires good communication skills to disseminate your findings at regular meetings, with our grant collaborators, and at conferences, and through the publication of papers.

This role is an open-ended contract with a funding end date of 30/09/2025. Appointment at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be at Grade 6B with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD Thesis.

This appointment is subject to UCL Terms and Conditions of Service for Research and Professional Services Staff. Please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/conditions-service-research-teaching-and-professional-services-staff for more information.

A job description and person specification can be accessed via the “Apply” button.

Interview Date(s) are scheduled for: 25/09/2024.

Job Ref: B02-07278

Closing Date: 31/07/2024 – 23:59 (UK time)

If you have any queries about the role, please contact Prof Trevor Smart. If you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online or have any queries about the application process, please contact the Biosciences HR team.

About you

You must have a PhD in biological science, or relevant subject area and proven knowledge of and experience in electrophysiology, biochemistry and imaging. You will be expected to make substantial contributions to the aims of the project which are to investigate how dysfunction in inhibitory neurotransmission and adult neurogenesis impact upon neuronal and network activity within the Down syndrome brain.

What we offer

The UCL Ways of Working supports colleagues to be successful and happy at UCL through sharing expectations around how we work – please see https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/policies-advice/ways-working to find out more.

As well as the exciting research opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits. Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

Our Division holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality.

You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/

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