Research Assistant

The UCL Huntington’s Disease Centre, based in the Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, is uniquely placed world-wide to translate mechanistic insights to ‘first in human’ studies. It combines sophisticated cell-based systems with rigorously standardised preclinical target validation to prime mechanistically-driven drug development initiatives. The Centre integrates clinical and laboratory work with small proof-of-concept first in human studies in patients in the Leonard Wolfson Experimental Neurology Centre (LWENC) prior to initiating larger phase 2 and 3 clinical trials including novel huntingtin-lowering trials.

We are recruiting a Research Assistant to join our world-leading research centre to investigate the role of the DNA damage response (DDR) in Huntington’s disease pathogenesis.

You will examine the involvement of DDR proteins in repeat expansion in patient-derived cell models and will use induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients with HD to study the role of DDR proteins, with a focus on the MutL MMR complexes, in repeat instability. Our HD-iPSC system shows robust CAG repeat expansions in culture, allowing us to dissect the role of DDR genes and variants in mediating repeat instability. You will use cutting-edge techniques including CRISPR based techniques to modulate expression of DDR genes of interest.

The role is available immediately and funded by until 31 August 2026 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 Ross Ferguson (r.ferguson at ucl.ac.uk).

We expect to hold interviews on 13 December 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 B02-07906.

You’ll have an honours degree (minimum 2:1) in biological science (or a related discipline) and experience of working in experimental laboratory research, with tissue culture, and with molecular biology (including PCR assays and transduction/transfection of cells). Proactivity, strong problem-solving abilities, and excellent communication skills are also essential for this role.

Starting salary for Research Assistants offered at £38,357 - £41,005 per annum on Grade 6B, inclusive of London Allowance.

We will also consider applications from candidates that hold a PhD in a relevant biological science or related discipline. If you hold a PhD in one of these areas, then you would be appointed as a Research Fellow with starting salary on the Grade 7 salary scale.

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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