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.

About the role

Launched in 2017, the UK Dementia Research Institute 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.

We are inviting applications for a Research Assistant in computational brain vascular epigenomics, funded by the Uren Foundation, to join the laboratory of Dr Alexi Nott (https://nottgroup.com/index.html) in the UK DRI at Imperial College London.

Vascular dysfunction is one of the earliest pathological features of dementia, preceding clinical onset and representing a critical but underexplored window for therapeutic intervention. Our recent work has demonstrated that the brain neurovascular unit is a key driver of genetic risk for small vessel disease, and that epigenomic profiling of vascular cell types can be used to prioritise repurposable drug targets for dementia (Ziegler et al., Neuron, 2026). The successful candidate will contribute to a translational research project investigating cell-type-specific gene regulatory mechanisms underlying small vessel disease, with the aim of identifying targets of vascular dysfunction relevant to dementia. This work carries direct translational potential, with the opportunity to contribute to the prioritisation of both repurposable and novel therapeutic candidates underpinned by human epigenetic and genetic evidence.

This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated individual with an interest in computational biology to gain experience at the forefront of dementia research. The Nott group is multidisciplinary, and the post holder will work closely with both computational scientists and experimentalists, gaining broad exposure to cutting-edge epigenomic approaches and translational neuroscience.

What you would be doing

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

• Lead the analysis of analyse large-scale epigenomic and multi-omics datasets from human vascular and immune cell types.
• Develop and maintain bioinformatic pipelines and analytical workflows, applying rigorous standards to ensure robust and reproducible results.
• Contribute to the functional interpretation of noncoding disease risk variants linked to vascular dysfunction, guiding the identification of genetically supported therapeutic targets.
• Work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary research team, including computational scientists and experimentalists, within the UK DRI and with external collaborators.

What we are looking for

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

• Strong programming skills in R, Python, or other coding languages (e.g. C++, Matlab), with knowledge of Unix/Linux environments and version control systems such as Git and GitHub.
• Experience working with large-scale genomic datasets, ideally CUT&Tag, and/or ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq, single-cell/nucleus genomics, RNA-seq.
• Experience with high-performance computing environments and the development of bioinformatic workflows using tools such as Nextflow.
• Knowledge of chromatin biology, gene regulation, and/or vascular and immune cell types, ideally in the context of the brain, is highly desirable.
• Experience working with GWAS summary statistics and/or population genetic analyses would be advantageous.

About us

The UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) is 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.

Dementia is the biggest health challenge of our century – currently affecting over fifty million people worldwide, projected to triple by 2050, with huge financial, emotional and social impact on people directly affected, their carers, families and the community.

About the role

The Bourdenx lab is recruiting a Research Fellow to investigate mechanisms of vulnerability to proteostasis collapse in ageing and neurodegenerative disorders. Our research integrates spatial and single cell omics, and computational approaches to understand why specific neuronal populations selectively degenerate in dementia.

You will join a team of researchers working on the project “Disentangling the diverse forms of collective protein homeostasis in neuronal condensates” in collaboration with Professor Jernej Ule’s team at King’s College London.

You will focus on molecular and cell biology techniques, including the generation, maintenance and characterisation of novel iPS cells, their differentiation into neurons, as well as the direct differentiation of fibroblasts to neurons. Functional studies will involve high-content imaging, sequencing technologies and proteomics.

This post is available immediately and is funded by the Medical Research Council for one year in the first instance.

For informal enquiries about the role please contact Dr Mathieu Bourdenx (m.bourdenx@ucl.ac.uk).

About you

You will have a PhD in Molecular or Cellular Biology, or a related discipline, with experience with iPSC culture or direct conversion of fibroblasts, and genome-editing techniques. Experience in advanced scientific programming for bioinformatics or spatial biology (Python, R) and programming good practices (version control, etc), in microscopy and image acquisition, and molecular biology are also a requirement, as is knowledge of neuroscience related themes. Knowledge of biology of ageing and experience with cell culture and biochemistry (western blot, IP, etc) are desirable.

About the role

Following recent awards from both the Michael Uren Foundation and The Wellcome Trust, Dr Samuel Barnes invites applications for postdoctoral Research Associates to take leading roles in high-impact, in vivo systems neuroscience research. The Barnes Lab, part of the UK Dementia Research Institute investigates vulnerability in the ageing brain, aiming to understand the role of neural circuit plasticity in the healthy adult brain, ageing and early-stages of neurodegeneration.  

Project 1: Investigation of tau and alpha-synuclein pathology on synaptic vulnerability and in vivo circuit dysfunction

You will investigate how the interaction between alpha synuclein and tau pathology can drive synaptic and circuit dysfunction in vivo. This research leverages a novel Light Field Imaging platform capable of volumetric voltage imaging at kilohertz rates, expansion microscopy and synaptic spatial proteomics in combination with recently developed mouse models of pathology to understand how tau and alpha-synuclein pathologies, and the combination of the two, can trigger synaptic dysfunction.

Project 2: Real-time volumetric voltage imaging and bioelectronic targeting of Alzheimer's Disease related circuit dysfunction

You will develop non-invasive, closed-loop interventions for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) circuit dysfunction. This research leverages a novel Light Field Imaging platform capable of volumetric voltage imaging at kilohertz rates. The project aims to integrate this real-time imaging with Temporal Interference (TI) brain stimulation to investigate and rescue neurovascular and circuit-level deficits in AD-related mouse models. See news article below:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/articles/medicine/brain-sciences/2026/wellcome-awards-392m-to-imperial-team-for-real-time-brain-imaging-breakthrough-/

What you would be doing

For both projects, we the candidates will execute the delivery of complex in vivo imaging and neuromodulation experiments, together with:

• Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Interface directly with co-investigators interested in pathology and imaging technologies, bioengineering, computing, and signal processing.
• Mentorship & Output: Supervise PhD/ Masters students and lead the preparation of high-impact manuscripts.
• Funding: You will be actively supported in pursuing independent fellowship applications and collaborative grant opportunities.

What we are looking for

You will hold (or be near completion of) a PhD in Systems Neuroscience, Neuroengineering, or a related quantitative biological field, and demonstrate:

• Technical Expertise: Significant experience with in vivo optical imaging, electrophysiology, synaptic proteomics and rodent surgical techniques.
• Analytical Skills: Proficiency in coding and handling large-scale neural datasets is highly desirable.
• Professionalism: A track record of peer-reviewed publications and the ability to work within a highly collaborative, multi-site team.

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 postdoctoral Research Associate in brain vascular epigenomics, funded by the Michael Uren Foundation, to join the laboratory of Dr Alexi Nott (https://nottgroup.com/index.html) in the UK DRI at Imperial College London.

Vascular dysfunction is one of the earliest pathological features of dementia, preceding clinical onset and representing a critical but underexplored window for therapeutic intervention. Our recent work has demonstrated that the brain neurovascular unit is a key driver of genetic risk for small vessel disease, and that epigenomic profiling of vascular cell types can be used to prioritise repurposable drug targets for dementia (Ziegler et al., Neuron, 2026). Building on these findings, the post holder will lead a translational research project investigating the cell-type-specific gene regulatory mechanisms underlying small vessel disease, with the aim of identifying and validating targets of vascular dysfunction relevant to dementia. This work carries direct translational potential, with the opportunity to contribute to the prioritisation of both repurposable and novel therapeutic candidates underpinned by human epigenetic and genetic evidence.

What you would be doing

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

• Generate and analyse large-scale epigenomic and multi-omics datasets from human vascular and immune cell types isolated from post-mortem brain tissue, to identify signalling pathways and transcription factors dysregulated in small vessel disease and dementia.
• Contribute to the functional interpretation of noncoding disease risk variants linked to vascular dysfunction, guiding the identification of genetically supported therapeutic targets.
• Work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary research team, including computational scientists and experimentalists, within the UK DRI and with external collaborators.

What we are looking for

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

• Demonstrable hands-on experience in (epi)genomics techniques such as CUT&Tag, ChIP-seq, or ATAC-seq, ideally in the brain.
• A strong foundational understanding of neuroscience, or a closely related discipline, with knowledge of gene regulatory mechanisms and an appreciation of how epigenomics can be used to interpret genetic variation.
• Experience with nuclei isolation and/or fluorescence-activated nuclei sorting (FANS) or FACS, preferably from brain or human tissue.
• Experience with R or Python and familiarity with bioinformatics pipelines would be advantageous but is not essential.