Post Doctoral Research Assistant

Dissecting the role of voltage-gated calcium channels in bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is characterised by extreme mood swings between mania and depression and is estimated to affect around 1 in 65 people worldwide. Exciting recent genetic evidence suggests that deficits in the functions of L-type voltage-gated calcium channels encoded by the CACNA1C gene may be important factor in development of bipolar disorder. We will investigate the electrophysiological and pharmacological properties of bipolar disorder risk-associated calcium channels in transfected cell lines using electrophysiology and protein biochemistry and molecular biological techniques. The project is based in the Pharmacology Group within the School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, with several principal investigations, PhD and PDRA researcher collected in a vibrant Ion Channels Group. The project is part of a larger group with researchers at the University of Oxford with complementary interests in bioinformatics, and proteomic approaches together with computational analyses and is funded fully by the US-based BD2 charity. BD2 is at the cutting edge of accelerating scientific understanding of bipolar disorder and supports a number of international groups committed to this shared objective. These groups meet for an international conference every year to exchange ideas and data to which our team will contribute from 2025.

You will have an interest in the role of ion channels in disease and key skills including in vitro electrophysiology and cell transfection with knowledge of protein biochemistry an advantage.

Please see the job description and personal specification for further details.

The closing date for applications is 23.59 on DATE 31st January 2025
Interview date - w/c Monday 10th February 2025

Future informal details can be obtained from
Contact Name: Gary Stephens
Contact Job Title: Professor of Pharmacology
Contact Email address: g.j.stephens@reading.ac.uk

By reference to the applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship may be possible under the Skilled Worker Route. Applicants wishing to consider the SWR must ensure that they are able to meet the points requirement before applying. Successful candidates not already holding a Skilled Worker visa issued before 4th April 2024 will need to have a relevant PhD qualification or qualify as a new entrant before being able to be sponsored. There is further information about visas on the UK Visas and Immigration Website. 

The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and champions LGBT+ equality. Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.

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