Research Assistant/Associate

We are seeking to recruit a motivated and creative Research Assistant/Associate (postdoctoral researcher) to work within an MRC-funded research programme https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=MR%2FZ504762%2F1, focussed on understanding how blood-stage asexual replication is regulated in the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

The post holder will join the School of Infection and Immunity and work under the supervision of Dr Abhinay Ramaprasad (Principal Investigator).

Malaria parasites proliferate within red blood cells through schizogony, a remarkable and unique process of cell division where the parasite first undergoes multiple rounds of DNA replication and nuclear division and then finally undergoes a specialised form of cytokinesis known as segmentation to produce several daughter parasites.

This process is strikingly unconventional as malaria parasites lack the typical cell-cycle checkpoints and regulatory molecules known in model eukaryotes. The applicant will make essential contributions to the research programme focussed on elucidating the molecular mechanisms and regulators that orchestrate schizogony. The post holder will conduct inducible gene knockout screens on several candidate genes using SHIFTiKO, a scalable DiCre system (https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkae1274).

The researcher will also closely work with labs of Dr. Virginia Howick and Prof. Thomas Otto to profile the single-cell transcriptomes of the knockout mutants towards identifying and characterising molecules that regulate schizogony.

The successful candidate will have extensive skills in investigating gene function in Plasmodium falciparum using targeted gene knockout strategies and multi-omics approaches. They will be self-motivated and collaborative with good problem-solving skills and a track record of leading outstanding academic research.

This position is full time, and has funding for up to 12 months.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Dr Abhinay Ramaprasad abhinay.ramaprasad@glasgow.ac.uk (www.parafugelab.com)

Closing Date: 14 February 2025

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