Vacancies

• About us:
  The Baljit Khakh Laboratory is relocating from the University of California Los Angeles to the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) at Cardiff and is seeking to appoint a number of Research Associates to join a newly established and ambitious research programme investigating the roles of astrocytes in brain function and dementia.
  Professor Baljit S. Khakh, internationally recognized for discoveries in astrocyte physiology and neuron–glia signalling, is launching his new research programme at UK DRI Cardiff University in summer 2026. The lab will integrate molecular genetics, advanced imaging, electrophysiology, and translational neuroscience to explore fundamental neuroscience mechanisms and uncover how astrocyte dysfunction contributes to the onset and progression of dementia.
  This is a new opportunity to join a leading neuroscience lab at one of the UK’s most vibrant and collaborative research hubs. The group will explore how astrocytes shape neural circuit activity, cognition, and neurodegeneration — with the goal of identifying new mechanisms and therapeutic strategies for dementia and related disorders. The laboratory will be housed in state-of-the-art research facilities within the Hadyn Ellis Building.
  What you would be doing
  To conduct research within the laboratory, integrating molecular genetics, advanced imaging, electrophysiology, and translational neuroscience to uncover how astrocyte dysfunction contributes to the onset and progression of dementia and contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University, carrying out research leading to the publishing of high-quality research. To pursue excellence in research and to inspire others to do the same. The posts are full time, require in person attendance and involve extensive experimental work and data analysis.
  Duties and Responsibilities
  To conduct research with expertise in one or more of the following: in vivo imaging, brain slice electrophysiology, behavioural analyses, molecular genetics, viral vector design, molecular biology, proteomics or bioinformatics.
• Contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University by the production of measurable outputs including bidding for funding, publishing in national academic journals and conferences, and the recruitment and supervision of postgraduate research students.
• To develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research including research funding proposals
• To attend and or present at conferences/seminars at a local and national level as required
• To undertake administrative tasks associated with the research project, including the planning and organisation of the project and the implementation of procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting
• To prepare research ethics and research governance applications as appropriate
• To review and synthesise existing research literature within the field
• To participate in School research activities.
• To build and create networks both internally and externally to the university, to influence decisions, explore future research requirements, and share research ideas for the benefit of research projects
• To engage effectively with industrial, commercial and public sector organisations, professional institutions, other academic institutions etc., regionally and nationally to raise awareness of the School’s profile, to cultivate strategically valuable alliances, and to pursue opportunities for collaboration across a range of activities. These activities are expected to contribute to the School and the enhancement of its regional and national profile.
• To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.

• To participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world
  
  What we are looking for
  Qualifications and Education
  1. Postgraduate degree at PhD level (or nearing completion / submission) in a related subject area or relevant industrial experience
  
  Knowledge, Skills and Experience
  2. An established expertise and proven portfolio of research and/or relevant industrial experience within one or more of the following research fields:
  1. Molecular biology
  2. RNAseq and data analyses
  3. Proteomics and data analyses
  4. Electrophysiology in any cellular setting in vivo or in brain slices
  5. Calcium imaging in any cellular setting in vivo or in brain slices
  6. Glial biology in cell culture or in vivo
  7. In vivo approaches
  8. Cell culture experience, ideally with stem cell-derived astrocytes
  9. Understanding of cellular and molecular neuroscience
  3. Knowledge of current status of research in specialist field of neuroscience and glial biology
  4. Proven ability to publish in national journals and/or present data at national conferences
  5. Knowledge and understanding of competitive research funding to be able to develop applications to funding bodies
  Communication and Team Working
  6. Proven ability in effective and transparent communication
  7. Ability to supervise the work of others to focus team efforts and motivate individuals
  Other
  8. Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and team-working within work
  9. Proven ability to work without close supervision

  For informal enquiries please contact Prof Baljit Khakh on KhakhB@cardiff.ac.uk

We have an exciting opportunity to appoint an enthusiastic and experienced Research Associate (Bioinformatician) to join Professor Valentina Escott-Price’s research group within the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University.

The post holder will play a leading role in the analysis of large and complex genetic and electronic health records datasets with a range of Bioinformatics tools, Statistical and Machine Learning approaches, whilst leading a broad range of investigative and analytical activities to maximally exploit clinical and genetic data of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and linking them to genetic risk scores with the aim to identify novel therapeutic target for ALS using molecular, cellular, and human/animal experimental data. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to take part in cutting-edge research investigating the complex architecture of ALS and related subphenotypes in human data.
Job Purpose
To conduct research principally within biostatistics, machine Learning and bioinformatics associated with genetics of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and related neurodegenerative conditions in large population and cross-sectional studies, and to contribute to the overall research performance of the School, University and the UK Dementia Research Institute, carrying out research leading to the publishing of work. To pursue excellence in research and to inspire others to do the same.

Duties and Responsibilities
Research

About the role

We are looking for a motivated Research Associate to lead the genomic and proteomic analyses for STRAT-GLP1, a research programme funded by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF). This post will deliver the core analytical aims of the project, using human genetics, multi-cohort genome-wide association studies (GWAS), plasma proteomics, and drug-target Mendelian randomisation to define metabolically stratified Parkinson’s disease (PD) subtypes and identify which patients are most likely to respond to GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs).

What you would be doing

You will be working closely with Dr Cynthia Sandor and collaborators at Cardiff University (Prof Caleb Webber, Dr Samuel Neaves, and Dr Viola Volpato). The project aims to understand how metabolic factors — including insulin resistance, glycaemic dysregulation, adiposity, lipid metabolism, and renin–angiotensin system activity — influence PD risk, genetic architecture, and disease progression. Using large international datasets including UK Biobank, All of Us, Our Future Health, PPMI, and OPDC/Tracking, you will perform stratified GWAS and drug-target Mendelian randomisation to identify genetically defined PD subtypes, and translate these findings into clinically actionable blood-based proteomic biomarkers using Olink (PPMI and UK Biobank) and SomaScan (OPDC/Tracking) platforms.

You will be the primary analyst on the project, with access to established data pipelines and secure compute environments from day one (UK Biobank Application 69610; PPMI; All of Us; Our Future Health; OPDC/Tracking). Advanced statistical approaches will be used to integrate genetic and proteomic data to identify patterns of disease progression and potential therapeutic targets, including GLP1R-related pathways.

What we are looking for

You will hold a PhD in statistical genetics, computational biology, bioinformatics, epidemiology, or a closely related quantitative discipline. You should have demonstrable experience in GWAS, Mendelian randomisation, and large-scale biobank data analysis. Familiarity with proteomic datsets and Bayesian modelling is desirable but not essential.

About the role

Launched in 2017, the UK DRI stands as a beacon of scientific innovation, representing an unprecedented £300 million investment in dementia research—the largest of its kind in UK history. The purpose of the UK DRI is to transform the outlook for people living with or at risk of neurodegenerative conditions through research.

Applications are invited for a Research Associate in oligodendrocyte and neuroimmune epigenomics to join the lab of Dr Alexi Nott (https://nottgroup.com/index.html) in the UK DRI at Imperial.

Following a new collaborative UK DRI Key Questions Award with Dr Sarah Marzi (King’s), Dr Rikesh Rajani (Edinburgh), and Dr Dervis Salih (UCL), we are seeking to appoint a dynamic postdoctoral researcher to lead one or more projects to characterise the epigenome of oligodendrocytes and neuroimmune cell types in early Alzheimer’s and resilience to dementia using patient-derived samples.  This post is funded for three years: the first 1.5 years based at Imperial on the White City Campus under the guidance of Dr Alexi Nott, where you will profile the epigenome of brain-derived oligodendrocytes and neuroimmune cell types. The second phase of the project will be in the lab of Dr Sarah Marzi, at the Denmark Hill Campus of King’s College London, to examine the epigenome of macroglia at single-cell resolution. You will contribute to the design and generation of large-scale ‘omics datasets with a primary focus on epigenomic analysis at cell-type-enriched and single-nuclei resolution to address major research questions relevant to Alzheimer’s and resilience to dementia.

Please contact Dr Alexi Nott for further discussion about the project and role.

What you would be doing

Using your experience in (epi)genomics of the brain, you will:

• Generate cell-type-enriched and single-nuclei CUT&Tag data from patient-derived brain tissue and stem cell model systems.
• Work collaboratively as part of a multi-site, multidisciplinary research team.

What we are looking for

We are seeking a motivated and organised researchers who is excited by the science we do! You will have:

• Experience in nuclei isolation, preferably from brain and/or human tissue
• Experience of fluorescence-activated nuclei sorting (FANS), and/or FACS
• Experience in epigenomics and/or single-cell genomic technologies.

Based at our office in London, we are looking for an experienced Head of Science Portfolio to advance UK DRI's scientific mission towards impact for people living with, and those at risk of neurodegenerative conditions.

The role holder will have an excellent understanding of the research ecosystem, identifying opportunities for growth and innovation, and facilitating strategic partnerships both within the UK and internationally. They will line manage the science team and will act as a key interface between researchers, the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), and external stakeholders.

About You

We are looking for someone who'll have:

• The ability to develop and implement long-term research strategies, whilst managing the short and medium term.
• Excellent influencing and negotiation skills
• Excellent relationship skills including the ability to build strong collaborative working relationships
• Excellent organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage priorities
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to understand and communicate complex terminology to lay audiences and drafting clear and concise documents
• Discretion and ability to deal with sensitive and confidential information professionally
• A high degree of attention to detail to ensure accuracy of information.
• A solution focused mindset and ability to implement effective strategies, systems and procedures to drive continuous improvement.
• Ability to evaluate information quickly to identify key issues and opportunities
• Ability to thrive in a changeable environment whilst meeting deadlines.
• Good knowledge of peer review funding processes

• Good knowledge of the research ecosystem and stakeholders.

   

  You'll also have relevant experience in:

• Scientific discipline (e.g., biomedical sciences, neuroscience, or related fields), or other relevant experience
• Research strategy, management and scientific leadership
• Positively and proactively managing multiple projects and key relationships
• Line management
• Working with cross-functional teams.
• Representing an organisation at external committees, conferences, or working groups.
• Experience in respecting the research undertaken and the sensitivities/confidentiality required when working with external partners