Vacancies

About the role

We are seeking to appoint a Research Technician in Neuroepigenomics in the group of Dr Alexi Nott (https://nottgroup.com/index.html). Dr Nott’s research focuses on understanding how the epigenome and chromatin architecture regulates cell type gene expression programs in the healthy brain and during aging and disease.

What you would be doing

Building on laboratory experience in neuroscience, you will:

• Characterise chromatin factors from microglia, vascular and other brain cell types in human models of neuroinflammation.
• Identify and develop suitable techniques, and apparatus, for the collection and analysis of nuclei from human brain tissue.
• Demonstrate an aptitude for an organised, methodical approach to your work
• Provide up-to-date technical expertise, advice and support for specialised methods appropriate to the research projects

What we are looking for

A good qualification in Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, or a relevant laboratory science or equivalent vocational qualification

• Experience of laboratory-based molecular biology and biochemistry research
• Experience of nuclei isolation from brain tissue
• Excellent communication skills and a willingness to learn and implement complex techniques

About the role

We are seeking motivated postdoctoral Research Associates to lead projects in the lab of Dr Naoto Watamura, an Edmond and Lily Safra Fellow, and working in close collaboration with the group of Dr Samuel Barnes. With new funding from The Michael Uren Foundation, we are offering two positions to grow our research on understanding the causal mechanisms of neurodegenerative pathology, particularly tau and α-synuclein, at single-cell resolution in living brain circuits and disease progression.

Based in the Department of Brain Sciences with membership of the UK Dementia Research Institute, you will further your expertise by developing and applying a novel in vivo platform to detect pathological α-synuclein or tau seeding and to determine its relationship with neuronal activity and molecular identity.

Both positions are initially offered for three years, with the expectation of extension. You will be supported and encouraged to apply for internationally competitive independent fellowships, publish original research and present at key conferences.

What you would be doing

Building on laboratory experience in neuroscience, you will:

• Develop and validate in vivo tau/α syn biosensor systems for real-time seed detection
• Perform two-photon live imaging to link neuronal activity with tau/α syn seed formation
• Analyse neural activity using GCaMP-based functional imaging
• Build and apply split-TEV strategies to label seed-containing cells
• Conduct seed-dependent snRNA-seq and integrate tau/α syn seed-formation with molecular profiling

What we are looking for

You will be a curious and organised scientist, keen to build on experience gained from a PhD in neuroscience, molecular biology, or related fields. You will bring

• Experience or strong interest in in vivo imaging and neuronal activity analysis
• Motivation to develop new biosensors and experimental systems
• Ability to integrate imaging, molecular profiling, and data analysis across scales
• Excellent Communication skills and a willingness to learn and implement complex techniques.
• Practical experience for DNA work and AAV production.