Research Fellow

About us

The RNA Regulation Laboratory, headed by Prof Andres Ramos is a highly dynamic research environment that applies a multi-disciplinary approach to address key questions in RNA Biology and neuronal regulation. The laboratory is part of the Biosciences Division, a centre of research excellence and one of the largest Divisions within UCL. Research activities in the Division and the linked Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology are underpinned by state-of the-art research facilities hosting and developing methodologies, including cell biology, optical microscopy, bioinformatics and ion mobility mass spectrometry laboratories and well as for X-ray crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy, NMR spectroscopy, single molecules methods. The post-holder will work also take advantage of the microscopy facilities at the UCL LCMB and the Francis Crick Institute, while working on developing neurons in the group of Professor Rickie Patani.

The Ramos lab promotes independent, creative, thinking, and projects are often in collaboration. The project we propose is an exciting opportunity to explore the role that RNA regulation plays in neuronal development integrating microscopy and transcriptome-wide analysis, with in cell interactome data and structural data on specific target sites. The project is a close collaboration with the group of Rickie Patani at the Francis Crick Institute and the UCL Institute of Neurology, and the post-holder will be work across the two laboratories.

About the role

The research we propose will focus on understanding the molecular basis of local mRNA translation in neuronal development. Important questions include, but are not limited to, how the proteins recognise large networks of functionally related mRNAs targets, how individual regulatory events are integrated to yield complex morphological changes and how the system is tuned by protein and RNA modifications, during development and in response to signalling. The role holder will be expected to pursue original, multi-disciplinary research. The project entails using single molecule microscopy, performing transcriptome and proteome-wide analyses and exploring, in the cell, the molecular component of specific interactions. Also, it features the use of AI-based methods of image analysis to integrate morphological information on developing neurons.

This is an open-ended contract for 30 months from the time of appointment, in the first instance.

If you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online or have any queries about the application process, please contact Biosciences staffing at biosciences.staffing@ucl.ac.uk.

About you

You must have a PhD in cell and molecular biology, and some knowledge of bioinformatic analysis. Experience in neurobiology and microscopy methods is also important. You will be expected to work as part of a tightly integrated team to produce original contributions to the mechanistic understanding of the role of RNA regulators in neuronal development. Your studies will focus on the understanding of the IGFBP1/IMP1 system, in the first instance. In addition to developing and conducting the research, you will contribute expertise to the overall research effort in the Ramos group. You will also communicate results as scientific papers in leading journals, and as scientific presentations at national and international conferences.

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