BNA Scholars Design and Host "Brain Sciences Symposium" aimed at supporting Early Career Researchers from Underrepresented Backgrounds
13th January 2025
Research Associate in Circadian Biology UK Dementia Research Institute (Imperial)
- Vacancy Reference Number
- MED05021
- Closing Date
- 10 Feb 2025
- Salary
- £48,056 - £56,345 per annum
- Address
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Hammersmith Campus - Hybrid
- Duration
- Full time - Fixed term role
Dementia is the biggest health challenge of our century.
To date there is no way to prevent it or even slow its progression, and there is an urgent need to fill the knowledge gap in our basic understanding of the diseases that cause it.
The UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) is the biggest UK initiative driving forward research to fill this gap.
The UK DRI at Imperial brings together researchers from diverse backgrounds with fresh perspectives, drawing on the university’s unique strengths, resources and focus on science, engineering, medicine and business. The team recognises that the challenges of dementia demand new concepts, new approaches and a diverse range of new research tools and directions. Their holistic approach views the ageing brain in the context of the ageing body, not in isolation.
The Brancaccio Lab invites applications from talented, highly motivated and creative postdoctoral scientists to take a leading role in one of the following projects investigating molecular cellular and circuit mechanisms driving circadian dysfunction in pre-clinical models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Today, over 1 million people in the UK are living with dementia and related neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and motor neuron disease (MND). The impact of these incurable and progressive conditions on individuals and their families is devastating. The cost to the economy and public services is large and growing as the UK population ages. However, due to major advances in our understanding of the biology of these diseases, the scientific field is at a tipping point, with the next decade promising to deliver transformative breakthroughs in therapies and a new era of predictive, preventative, and precision medicine for neurodegenerative conditions. The UK is well placed to play a leading role in this revolution due to its scientific strengths in the field, led by the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) working with our world-class, university-based centres. We are a globally leading multidisciplinary research institute of over 900 staff investigating the spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders causing dementia, driving a step change in our understanding of neurodegeneration, and accelerating the discovery, development and delivery of interventions that will help diagnose, treat, and ultimately prevent dementia. Our principal funder is the Medical Research Council (MRC).
What you would be doing
Project: Leveraging circadian clocks to prevent Alzheimer’s disease
In this project, you will develop new molecular tools modifying circadian pathways to prevent/ delay Alzheimer’s disease. This project stems from newly established mouse models and clock molecular targets identified in the Brancaccio Lab. You will perform viral delivery of gene therapy viral vectors, behavioural assessment of sleep-wake cycles and cognition, multiplexed live imaging in brain tissue, combinatorial intersectional genetics, and multivariate statistical analysis of time series to validate new chronotherapeutic interventions in Alzheimer’s disease. Further experience with analyses of large ‘OMICS dataset and advanced molecular biology tools in addition to stereotaxic brain surgery and live imaging will be an element of significant strength for this position. Previous knowledge of circadian biology is desirable but not strictly necessary.
Further Information
What we are looking for:
You will be a motivated and organised researcher, excited by the science we do.
You will hold (or be near completion of) a PhD in neuroscience (or related discipline).
Experience of one or more laboratory techniques including live imaging microscopy and advanced techniques of molecular biology (e.g., cloning, viral vector design, construction and production, CRISPR/Cas9 and/or RNAi functional interference
Experience of one or more software packages is essential: MATLAB, ImageJ, SigmaPlot,
Prism, R, as is experience in statistical analysis.
Practical experience with RNAseq, RNA scope, and spatial transcriptomic techniques is highly desirable.
Experience with multivariate statistical analysis of (circadian) time series is highly desirable.
Contact Details
If you require any further details on the role please contact: Dr Marco Brancaccio – m.brancaccio@imperial.ac.uk