Research Associate in Circadian Biology - UK Dementia Research Institute

Location: Hammersmith Campus

Job Summary

The Brancaccio Lab invites applications from talented, highly motivated and creative postdoctoral scientists to take a leading role in one of the following projects investigating molecular cellular and circuit mechanisms driving circadian dysfunction in pre-clinical models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Project 1 Establishment of a platform for the validation of cellular chronotherapeutic targets for the prevention/delay Alzheimer’s pathology in brain tissue

In this project, you will develop an integrated platform for the identification of cell-type specific changes in circadian molecular pathways associated with early pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. This platform will integrate cutting edge high throughput multiplexed live imaging in brain tissue, combinatorial intersectional genetics, and multivariate statistical analysis of time series to validate novel targets for chronotherapeutic interventions in Alzheimer’s disease. CRISPR/Cas9 and RNAi based experiments of functional interference will be used for the validation and manipulation of circadian pathways involved in disease. This is part of a major Imperial Medicine/ Michael Uren Foundation/ UK DRI initiative aimed to developing new translational avenues for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/240231/75-million-gift-will-advance-experimental/

Project 2 Investigating circadian dysfunction in hiPSC-derived glia-neuronal cultures isolated from Alzheimer’s disease patients 

In this project you will specific circadian signatures associated with Alzheimer’s disease, monitored in IPSCs derived cells isolated from Alzheimer’s disease patients and healthy subjects. The project will involve the generation and monitoring of cell-type specific reporters for high-throughput multiplexed live imaging of circadian function; time dependent gene expression profiling of circadian molecular pathways, and proof-of-principle designer chronotherapeutic glia interventions. This is a UK DRI/ ONO pharmaceutical collaborative project, aimed to validate glial manipulations for the prevention and therapy of Alzheimer’s disease in preclinical human models

Please contact Dr Marco Brancaccio M.Brancaccio@Imperial.ac.uk for further discussion about the projects and roles.

These roles are part of the UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London, located in the Department of Brain Sciences.  Postdocs in the UK DRI at Imperial enjoy excellent career development opportunities with:

• Access to a range of cutting-edge technologies, i.e., real-time live imaging for circadian gene expression and neuronal and glial metabolic function, automated behavioural testing, single cell/nuclei transcriptomics, Imaging Mass Cytometry and computational modelling.
• An inclusive and collegial working environment.
• Strong national links through the UK DRI with attendance at its annual scientific meeting ‘Connectome’.
• Support from the Postdoc and Fellows Development Centre (PFDC) and 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

You will be a motivated and organised researcher, excited by the science we do.

You will hold (or be near completion of) a PhD in neuroscience (or related discipline).

Experience of one or more laboratory techniques including live imaging microscopy and advanced techniques of molecular biology (e.g., cloning, viral vector design, construction and production, CRISPR/Cas9 and/or RNAi functional interference), hIPSCs culture (for project 2) is essential.

Experience of one or more software packages is essential: MATLAB, ImageJ, SigmaPlot,

Prism, R, as is experience in statistical analysis.

Practical experience with RNAseq, RNA scope, and spatial transcriptomic techniques is highly desirable.

Experience with multivariate statistical analysis of (circadian) time series is highly desirable.

Further Information

These positions are offered full time, initially for a period of one year with the expectation for renewal.

Appointments are typically made to the first spine point of the scale. Applicants who have not yet had their PhD degree awarded will be appointed to the Research Assistant scale.

Candidates will need to complete an online application; CVs alone will not be accepted.

For issues related to the online application, please contact recruitment@imperial.ac.uk

Closing date: 27th February 2023

To apply, visit www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs and search by the job reference MED03648