Research Fellow

About us

The Department of Neuromuscular Diseases is a hub for clinical and research excellence across the spectrum of spinal cord and neuromuscular diseases. Our group of world-leading clinical, genetic and basic science researchers focus their work on understanding the causes and biological mechanisms leading to Neuromuscular Disease and translating this knowledge into developing novel therapeutic solutions that is of direct benefit to neurological disorders such as motor neurone disease, Alzheimer’s disease and neuromuscular disease.

The Patani Lab, based in the Department, aims to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning motor neuron disease (ALS). We use a variety of patient derived iPSC lines to investigate disease-related events at molecular level across different relevant cell types, including motor neurons, astrocytes and microglia.

About the role

We are seeking a Research Fellow to join our established and dedicated team of researchers using human induced pluripotent stem cells to study Motor Neuron Disease (ALS).

Based in the laboratory of Professor Rickie Patani, you will be working on resolving the molecular basis of motor neuron degeneration with a particular focus on the relationship between genomic instability and aberrant RNA metabolism using established human stem cell models of ALS. You will utilise cutting-edge sequencing approaches, such as DRIP-seq, INDUCE-seq and bulk RNAseq (through a collaboration with the Boulton lab at the Francis Crick Institute) to explore the complex functional interaction between these processes.

This is a compelling opportunity to contribute to ground-breaking, high-impact research projects within an intellectually stimulating, globally diverse scientific community.

The role is available immediately and funded by My Name’5 Doddie Foundation for two years in the first instance.

About you

You will have a PhD in a relevant subject, significant experience in mathematical modelling of biological data and in using R/Python and/or other programming languages. Experience of advanced molecular biology methods, analysing bulk RNAseq datasets, with specific focus on splicing and RNA processing is also required for this job.

UCL welcomes applications from international applicants who require a visa.

What we offer

Starting salary offered in the rage £42,099 - £49,263 per annum.

Appointment as Research Fellow is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be as Research Assistant (salary £37,332 - £39,980 per annum) with appointment as Research Fellow being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis.

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits; visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. 12% of Institute staff are actively working on EDI initiatives; visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ion/equality-diversity-inclusion for more information about what we’re doing. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce; these include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQI+ and gender diverse people in all roles, and women in Grade 9 and 10 roles.

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