Research Fellow

About us

Biosciences is one of the world’s foremost centres for research and teaching in the biological sciences and one of the largest Divisions within UCL, undertaking a significant amount of research and teaching. The Division has a diverse portfolio addressing all areas of biology from protein interactions to cell function, organism development, genetics, population studies and the environment. Computational modelling approaches are frequently used alongside experimental research programmes and much of our research crosses traditional boundaries, including the relationship of biodiversity to the health of the planet. Activity is underpinned by high calibre science technology platforms and state of the art equipment. Educational activity includes a range of undergraduate programmes, an expanding number of Masters Programmes and a substantial number of postgraduate research students.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Fernandes Lab in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology.

We are generously funded by the Wellcome Trust to investigate how developmental processes coordinated to build functional circuitry.

About the role

Define the molecular mechanisms involved in neuronal commitment and maturation.

Neuronal differentiation is driven by dramatic changes in gene expression, which are precisely timed during development. This project aims to understand (1) the molecular mechanisms that drive a progenitor cell to differentiate into a neuron and (2) how these mechanisms are timed to enable rapid commitment to a particular neuronal fate.

Interview Date(s) are scheduled for: September 2024.

Ideally, the position would initiate between October 2024-Jan 2025

This role is an open-ended contract with a funding end date of 30 September 2025 in the first instance.

Research Fellows - '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 (salary £34,502 - £36,348 per annum) 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 at the bottom of this page.

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 Biosciences staffing at .

About you

• Evidence of a good quality research outputs, such as publications (at least one first author publication)
• Knowledge of the field of cell biology
• Knowledge of the field of developmental biology
• Knowledge of Drosophila melanogaster husbandry
• Experience working with developing Drosophila melanogaster visual system
• Knowledge of genetic toolkits and research techniques in Drosophila
• Knowledge of post-transcriptional mechanisms to regulate gene expression
• Experience working with vertebrate model organisms such as mice or zebrafish
• Experience working with C. elegans
• Experience with coding in python
• Experience with immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridisation, etc.
• Knowledge of machine learning
• Experience with student mentorship and supervision
• Experience with teaching undergraduate coursework
• Demonstrable expertise in the use of confocal imaging
• Demonstrable expertise in molecular biology techniques (cloning, RNA extraction and sequencing, etc.)

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