Research Fellow

About us

The mission of the Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy is to transform the lives of people living with epilepsy for the better by identifying, understanding and correcting or preventing the underlying mechanisms leading to the epilepsies and associated comorbidities in each individual person. Our vision is to build upon the excellence and breadth of our research, seamlessly integrating basic and clinical science.

Based within the Department is the Experimental Epilepsy Group. Our research spans across fundamental mechanisms of vesicle fusion and synaptic transmission, ion channel biology, experimental models of epilepsy, the function of neural circuits, and neurological diseases modelled in rodents and flies.

About the role

We are seeking a Research Fellow to join our team and use Neuropixels technology in vivo to assess the excitability of brain regions in models of neurological diseases. This project is a key part of a broader research program focused on optimising gene therapy for neurological disorders, with the goal of clinical translation.

The post is available from 01 February 2025 and is part of an Advanced Research + Invention Agency-funded project, subject to contract negotiations, until 31 January 2027 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 B02-08143.

About you

You will have a PhD or equivalent in Neuroscience (or a related discipline) as well as experience with experimental rodent models of neurological diseases (e.g., epilepsy, dementia, or schizophrenia) and proficiency in electrophysiology, stereotaxic surgery, and electrode implantation. Experience in programming (preferably in MATLAB or Python) and expertise working with rodents, including behavioural assessment and colony management in disease models, is also required for the role

This role meets the eligibility requirements for a skilled worker certificate of sponsorship or a global talent visa under UK Visas and Immigration legislation. Therefore, UCL welcomes applications from international applicants who require a visa.

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

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.

Customer advert reference: B02-08143

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