Research Fellow

About us

The Department of Neuromuscular Diseases is a hub for clinical and research excellence across the spectrum of spinal cord and neuromuscular diseases. The Department hosts a number of important Research Centres, including the Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease (QSMND) Centre, which aims to be a leading international centre for MND, engaging with national and international partners and the UK’s leading centre for multidisciplinary training of basic and clinical scientists in MND.

The QSMND Centre has established, or developed in partnership with other Universities in the UK, two of the largest longitudinal collections of biological samples and clinical data in the UK and world-wide. These biobanks provide the backbone of the translational research undertaken in the Centre, including the identification and validation of disease biomarkers, and the definition of novel therapeutic targets using cell-based surrogates of MND pathology.

About the role

We are recruiting a Research Fellow to support ongoing research into the immune response to neurodegeneration and the role of immunological senescence in the progression of ALS. The work will focus on identifying neoantigens formed during neurodegeneration that are linked to ALS pathology, including TDP-43 proteinopathy. We will characterise the T cell response in circulation involved in recognising changes in protein homeostasis and evaluate their ability to sustain a chronic inflammatory response.

Your role will also involve optimising, maintaining, and working with techniques to screen protein antigens and antibodies that can serve as biomarkers and be developed into therapeutic targets for clinical trials in MND.

The post is available immediately and funded by a grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research for one year in the first instance.

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 B02-08078.

About you

You will hold a PhD in Neuroscience, Biology, or a related discipline as well as experience in constructing libraries from tissue and cell RNA for use in antigen and antibody selection. Excellent communication, interpersonal, problem-solving, and organisational skills are also essential for this role.

What we offer

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 great benefits; visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.

We will consider applications to work on a part-time, flexible, and job share basis wherever possible.

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.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The Institute prides itself on operating in an all-inclusive environment irrespective of personal, physical, or social characteristics. Teamwork is highly valued, individual strengths are recognised and celebrated, and we are committed to advancing the careers of everyone. 12% of Institute staff are actively working on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives; visit our EDI website for more information about our initiatives and priorities. The Institute also holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality.

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