Senior Research Associate in Genetic Epidemiology and Immunopsychiatry x 2

The role

We have an exciting opportunity for a talented postdoctoral researcher to join the Immunopsychiatry Programme led by Professor Golam Khandaker at the MRC Integrative Epidemiology unit (IEU) at the University of Bristol. You will be joining a multidisciplinary team of researchers who are working to advance our understanding of the aetiological mechanisms for depression, schizophrenia and other psychiatric conditions, and to find new and more targeted ways of treating them. The team use population-based epidemiological studies, genetic and data science methods, and RCTs to identify and validate immunological causal mechanisms, novel treatment targets, and disease subtypes.

This role will involve leading on research on the role of inflammation/immunity in depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative conditions using a variety of epidemiological and genetic methods.

What will you be doing?

The work will involve analysis of largescale population-based cohort/biobank data including immunological, proteomic and transcriptomic biomarkers. Use of genetic epidemiological methods (e.g., polygenic score, genetic correlation, colocalization), methods designed to strengthen causal inference (e.g., Mendelian randomization analysis), and multi-omics data (e.g., genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics) will be a key part of your work.

In addition, you will write and publish papers, present at scientific conferences/meetings, attend training activities, and contribute to grant applications, student/staff supervision, and other group activities (e.g., science communication, public engagement). There will be opportunity to develop new research skills and projects. Development of a personal fellowship/grant application will be encouraged.

You should apply if

You should apply if you are keen to develop a career in epidemiology, genetics and data science research to advance our understanding of the causal mechanisms for mental health conditions to inform the development of novel treatments and biology-based disease subtyping. Experience in analysing population-based cohort/biobank data especially studies involving immunological, proteomic, genetic and other biomarkers and mental health outcomes would be an advantage. Knowledge and experience of genetic analysis, e.g., Mendelian randomization, genetic correlation, colocalization, would be useful. As will be experience of using data from publicly available data sources/repositories such as the UK Biobank, PGC, eQTLGEN, MetaBrain. There will be opportunity to learn and further develop these skills within the post through support and expertise available in the Immunopsychiatry Programme and the wider MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit.

Being able to work independently for a major part of time and having good organizational and time management skills will be essential, as you will be responsible for leading on your own research. You will also need good communication and interpersonal skills.

Additional information

Contract type: Open-ended with funding until 30/09/2026

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on 29/09/2024

For informal queries please contact:

Prof Golam Khandaker (golam.khandaker@bristol.ac.uk)

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