The UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) is the biggest UK initiative supporting research to fill the major knowledge gap in our basic understanding of the diseases that cause dementia.
Dementia is the biggest health challenge of our century – currently affecting 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. Dementia is a symptom of several neurodegenerative disorders, with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for about 60% of cases. To date there is no way to prevent or even slow the rate of progression of neurodegeneration.
We are a globally leading multidisciplinary research institute of 850 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 laboratory-based research groups are located at Imperial College London, University College London, the University of Cambridge, Cardiff University, Edinburgh University, and King’s College London.
We use innovative approaches to explore the biological mechanisms involved in neurodegenerative diseases and aim to understand the fundamental biological processes involved in dementia at a molecular level – and to use that knowledge to design new ways to diagnose and treat disease more precisely.
To this end, the labs of Marc-David Ruepp (UK DRI at King’s) and William McEwan (UK DRI at Cambridge) are seeking an enthusiastic research assistant for a UK DRI funded post to develop a novel scFV-TRIM21-based approach to specifically target and degrade cytoplasmic mislocalised mutant FUS – the cause of FUS-linked Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and assess whether this approach can be used to prevent or alleviate neurodegeneration.
This post will be offered on a full-time, fixed term contract until 28-Feb-2025.
Key responsibilities
- Maintenance of cell and stem cell cultures
- Perform molecular biology, cell biology and imaging assays
- Maintaining accurate laboratory assays
- Undertake any other reasonable duties that may be requested by Dr Marc-David Ruepp and William McEwan
- Requires flexibility for occasional weekend work (feeding stem cell cultures)
- Requires willingness to work across the UK DRI at King’s and UK DRI at Cambridge labs and hence at two locations
The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.
Skills, knowledge, and experience
Essential criteria
1. MSc in neuroscience or related discipline
2. Knowledge and training in neurodegeneration
3. Experience in stem cell culture and primary cell lines
4. Experience and skills in advanced microscopy and quantitative analysis of fluorescence microscopy
5. Experience and skills in molecular biology techniques such as nucleic acids isolation, qPCR, western blotting, immunoprecipitations
Desirable criteria
1. Experience in Molecular Cloning (Site directed mutagenesis/classic restriction enzyme-based cloning)
2. Knowledge in synapse biology
Further information
This post is subject to a Occupational Health clearance.
