Research Fellow

The Department of Neuromuscular Diseases is a hub for clinical and research excellence across the spectrum of spinal cord and neuromuscular diseases. Our group of world-leading clinical, genetic and basic science researchers focus their work on understanding the causes and biological mechanisms leading to Neuromuscular Disease and translating this knowledge into developing novel therapeutic solutions that is of direct benefit to neurological disorders such as motor neurone disease, Alzheimer’s disease and neuromuscular disease.

We are seeking a research fellow to support genetic and biomarker studies in neuromuscular diseases. You will mainly use patient genetic and biomarker data, with the possibility to work with iPSC-derived neurons and mice, to increase the diagnostic yield on unsolved neuromuscular diseases, and develop disease-relevant biomarkers to develop therapies (with focus on SORD neuropathy).

You will be based in the Cortese Laboratory and work in close collaboration with the Sleigh Laboratory on two main projects; project one involves using novel long-read sequencing (LRS) technologies to increase the diagnostic yield in unsolved neuromuscular diseases, and project two involves using clinical data to identify and track serum biomarkers, that will be paired with a recently generated mutant Sord mouse to unravel common and distinctive signatures to facilitate translation of key findings into human clinical trials

The post is available immediately and is funded by Muscular Dystrophy UK and AFM-Telethon for one year, or until 31 October 2025, whichever is earlier, in the first instance.

If you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online, or have any queries regarding the application process, please contact the Institute of Neurology HR Team (ion.hradmin at ucl.ac.uk).

Informal enquiries regarding the role can be addressed to Dr Andrea Cortese (andrea.cortese at ucl.ac.uk) and Dr James Sleigh (j.sleigh at ucl.ac.uk).

Application deadline: 23:59, 29 October 2024.

For a full job description and to apply for this role please visit UCL’s online recruitment portal (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/search-ucl-jobs) and search using vacancy reference B02-07809.

You’ll have a PhD in Neuroscience, Biology, or a related discipline (or an MD in Medicine/Surgery), experience in neurobiology/neuroscience research, and an interest in the neuromuscular system and relevant pathological conditions. Experience in next-generation sequencing data analysis, of molecular biology techniques, and with handling patient samples is also essential for this role.

Starting salary offered at £43,124 per annum, inclusive of London Allowance.

Appointment as Research Fellow is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be as Research Assistant (salary £38,357 - £41,005 per annum) with appointment as Research Fellow being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis.

As well as the exciting 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.

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. 12% of Institute staff are actively working on EDI initiatives; visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ion/equality-diversity-inclusion for more information about what we’re doing. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce; these include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQI+ and gender diverse people in all roles, and women in Grade 9 and 10 roles.

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