Research Associate

Prof Vincent Dion’s group develops novel approaches to treat expanded CAG/CTG repeat disorders, including Huntington’s disease and myotonic dystrophy. His lab is developing gene editing approaches to contract the disease causing sequences using the Cas9 nickase. To help move this exciting project forward, we are looking to hire a Research Associate able to engineer the Cas9 enzyme to make it more efficient using molecular dynamics. The person should also be able to test the effectiveness of gene editing in mammalian cells and to have expertise in measuring repeat size distribution using long read sequencing and/or other assays. This role includes in vivo work and thus candidates would ideally have a PIL from the Home Office.

The UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) is a joint £290 million investment from the Medical Research Council (MRC), Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK. Centred on the need for innovative, early-stage science to advance our understanding of how dementias develop and progress, the UK DRI’s research will bring new therapies to patients faster. The Institute’s mission is to find new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent dementias, whilst finding better ways to provide care for people with dementia.

For informal enquiries please contact Professor Vincent Dion on DionV@cardiff.ac.uk.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week), available from 1st July 2024 and fixed term until 31st December 2024 and is based at the Hadyn Ellis Building, Cathays campus.

Salary: £39,347 - £44,263 per annum (Grade 6). Appointments to roles at Cardiff University are usually made at bottom of scale unless in exceptional circumstances.

The majority of roles at Cardiff University are currently operating under “blended working” arrangements, with staff having the flexibility to work partly from home and partly from the University campus depending on specific business requirements. Discussions around these arrangements can take place after the successful candidate has been appointed.

Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 45 days annual leave (incl bank holidays), local pension scheme, a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments within the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work, with many different challenges and is a proud Living Wage supporter.

How we will support you in performing in this role –

There are some things that you must have before you can start this role (see ‘Essential Criteria’), but other things can be developed either through training, or just by general on-the-job experience. We want to support and develop you once you have started in the role using a combination of the following to get the best out of you:

1. Regular one-to-ones with your manager
2. An experienced and supportive team around you
3. Supporting you through job-relevant training and development that you may require
4. A mentoring scheme

Closing date: Thursday, 28 March 2024

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

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