Research Associate in Epigenetics – UK Dementia Research Institute

Job description
Job summary

We are seeking a bright, talented, highly motivated, and ambitious scientist to lead a project exploring the epigenome and 3D chromatin architecture of midbrain cell-types associated with Parkinson’s disease.

Following the award of a UK Dementia Research Institute Cross-Centre Postdoc Award, we invite applications for a Research Associate to lead a collaborative project between the UK DRI Centres at Imperial and Cardiff. Working closely with both groups throughout to leverage midbrain epigenomics for the interpretation of Parkinson’s disease risk, you will be based at the Imperial College London under the immediate guidance of Dr Alexi Nott (https://nottgroup.com/index.html ) to profile the epigenome and chromatin architecture of midbrain cell-types with additional bioinformatics supervision from, and regular residential visits to Prof Caleb Webber’s team (Cardiff University) (https://ukdri.ac.uk/team/caleb-webber ).

You will use next-generation sequencing data from patient-derived brain tissue and stem cell model systems to identify Parkinson’s disease risk gene networks and associated transcriptional regulators. Prior experience in epigenomic methods and related bioinformatics, and a background in neurobiology would be advantageous.  You will build on your current skills in a range epigenomic approaches for interpretation of genetic risk variants such as CUT&Tag, ATAC-seq, RNA-seq and capture-based Hi-C, including single cell/nuclei datasets.  These studies will help to guide the functional interpretation of noncoding disease risk variants for Parkinson’s disease.

This role is part of the UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London and Cardiff University .  Postdocs in the UK DRI enjoy excellent career development opportunities with:

• Access to a range of cutting-edge epigenomic technologies, including CUT&Tag and capture-based Hi-C
• An inclusive, collegial working environment in multi-disciplinary teams
• Strong national links through the UK DRI with attendance at its annual scientific meeting ‘The Connectome’
• Support from the Postdoc and Fellows Development Centre (PFDC ) at Imperial and UK DRI ECR Communities
• The opportunity to mentor, supervise and teach students

Duties and responsibilities

As a Research Associate in the UK DRI, you will:

• Build on your existing skills and experience to address major components of this project independently.
• Present research findings as written reports, at conferences, within the College and as published manuscripts.
• Take initiative in the planning of research, with clear and timely communications to the Group Leader and relevant researchers.
• Contribute to the smooth running of the lab and facilities, acting collegiately with other scientists, clinicians, technicians and students
• Provide guidance to staff and assist in the supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate research students, as required
• Maintain highly organised and accurate records of experimental work
• Undertake appropriate scientific and professional training.

Essential requirements

• Research Associate: Hold a PhD (or equivalent) in Neuroscience, Molecular Biology or a closely related discipline, or equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience
• Research Assistant: Near completion of a PhD (or equivalent) in Neuroscience, Molecular Biology or a closely related discipline, or equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience
• Experience of one or more software packages is essential: MATLAB, ImageJ, SigmaPlot, Prism, R as is experience in statistical analysis.
• Practical experience within a research environment and / or publication in relevant and refereed journals
• Evidence for mastery of laboratory-based and/or bioinformatics skills

Further information

This position is offered Full Time and Fixed Term initially for 3 years with the potential for renewal, based at the White City campus (West London), and the Hadyn Ellis building on Cardiff University’s Innovation Campus (Wales).

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as a Research Assistant within the salary range £38,194 – £41,388 per annum.

Please contact Dr Alexi Nott a.nott@imperial.ac.uk for informal discussions about the project and role.

The College is a proud signatory to the San-Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA),which means that in hiring and promotion decisions, we evaluate applicants on the quality of their work, not the journal impact factor where it is published. For more information, see: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-evaluation/

The College believes that the use of animals in research is vital to improve human and animal health and welfare. Animals may only be used in research programmes where their use is shown to be necessary for developing new treatments and making medical advances. Imperial is committed to ensuring that, in cases where this research is deemed essential, all animals in the College’s care are treated with full respect, and that all staff involved with this work show due consideration at every level. http://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-integrity/animal-research / 

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