Research Associate – UK Dementia Research Institute

About the role:

The Franks-Wisden lab invites applications from creative and highly motivated scientists for a Research Associate position that will take a leading role in the following project:

Enhancing sleep as a treatment for people living with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

This project will investigate possibilities for enhancing sleep by stimulating novel circuitry using bioelectronic engineering and genetic approaches.

The position is funded through a Uren Foundation Philanthropic award for Alzheimer’s disease research (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/240231/75-million-gift-will-advance-experimental/) and will be administered through the Department of Life Sciences and the UK Dementia Research Institute. The position will be based in the Department of Life Sciences’ South Kensington campus.

What you would be doing:

As a Research Associate in the UK DRI, you will:

• Build on your existing skills and experience to address major components of this project independently.
• Present research findings as written reports, at conferences, within the College and as published manuscripts.
• Take initiative in the planning of research, with clear and timely communications to the Group Leader and relevant researchers.
• Contribute to the smooth running of the lab and facilities, acting collegiately with other scientists, clinicians, technicians and students
• Provide guidance to staff and assist in the supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate research students, as required
• Maintain highly organised and accurate records of experimental work
• Undertake appropriate scientific and professional training.

What we are looking for:

You will be a motivated and organised researcher, excited by the science we do. You will hold (or be near completion of) a PhD in neuroscience (or related discipline) or in neurotechnology or electronic engineering, with practical experience of e.g., electronics and/or electronic circuit design, or e.g., optogenetics, and an interest in pursuing animal behavioural experiments.

What we can offer you:

Postdocs in the UK DRI at Imperial enjoy excellent career development opportunities with:

• Access to a range of cutting-edge technologies, i.e., optogenetics, viral transduction, electronic circuit design, neurotechnology, animal behaviour
• An inclusive, collegial, team-oriented working environment.
• Strong national links through the UK DRI with attendance at its annual scientific meeting ‘Connectome’.
• Support from the Postdoc and Fellows Development Centre (PFDC) and Imperial and UK DRI ECR Communities
• The opportunity to mentor, supervise and teach students
• Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 39 days off a year and generous pension schemes).

Further Information

This position is offered full time for up to 12-months in the first instance and has the possibility of extension.

Appointments are typically made to the first spine point of the scale. Applicants who have not yet had their PhD degree awarded will be appointed to the Research Assistant scale.

Candidates will need to complete an online application; CVs alone will not be accepted.

Please contact w.wisden@imperial.ac.uk  and n.franks@imperial.ac.uk  for discussion about the project and role.

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