Duties and Responsibilities
Applications are invited for a Research Fellow within the Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology. This is an outstanding opportunity for lab-based work on a new international collaborative project, funded for 3 years in the first instance with a grant from the Michael J Fox Foundation For Parkinsons Research ASAP (“Aligning Science Against Parkinson’s”) Collaborative Research Network initiative https://www.michaeljfox.org/grant/understanding-inherited-and-acquired-genetic-variation-parkinsons-disease-through-single-cell). Out of 21 ASAP-funded projects, UCL IoN leads three, and is participating in a fourth, which this post is a part of, and is thus the leading institution internationally in this major new effort to elucidate the cause of the second commonest neurodegenerative disease.
The overall objective of this project is to provide a multiomics atlas of >4,500,000 million single cells from brain and gut to identify Parkinson’s disease-relevant genes and cell (sub) types, and their perturbation by genetic variation. The UCL component, led by co-PI Christos Proukakis, will undertake detailed investigation of mosaicism due to somatic CNVs. This will allow the postholder to develop world-class cutting-edge expertise in single cell and tissue genomics, as part of a large collaborative local and international effort. The successful candidate will be self-directed with excellent organisational and technical skills, capable of working collaboratively in a team of researchers.
The post is available from March 2021 to January 2024 in the first instance and is funded by a grant awarded from the MJFF (ASAP).
Key Requirements
Applicants must have a PhD in molecular neuroscience, genetics, or a closely related topic or be close to obtaining. Laboratory experience in genetics, cell biology, neuropathology or closely related topic is essential as is experience with statistics and advanced data analysis. Excellent oral and written communication skills, strong problem solving abilities and excellent time management are also a requirement. Post-doctoral or PhD experience in single cell genomics, experience in DNA sequencing including library preparation, an understanding of relevant bioinformatic analysis principles, and advanced computing skills eg R, python, automated image counting, are desirable.
Appointment at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be at research assistant Grade 6B (salary £31,542 – £33,257 per annum) with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis.
Further Details
A Job Description and Person Specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
To apply for the vacancy, please click on the ‘Apply Now’ button below.
If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact Samantha Robinson, HR Officer, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, 23 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG (email: ion.hradmin@ucl.ac.uk).
Informal enquiries are strongly encouraged to Dr Christos Proukakis (email c.proukakis@ucl.ac.uk)