Research Fellow

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 Houlden Laboratory, based in the Department, researches genetic causes underlying rare neurological diseases, particularly neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders.

We recently discovered PSMF1 as a new gene implicated in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and childhood neurodegeneration. We find that biallelic PSMF1 missense and loss-of-function variants co-segregate with phenotypes from early-onset PD and parkinsonism to perinatal lethality with neurological manifestations across 15 unrelated pedigrees with 22 affected subjects, showing clear genotype-phenotype correlation.

We are now recruiting a Research Fellow to join a team working on an exciting project on PSMF1. You will differentiate neurons from patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells and perform a wide set of experiments to investigate the neurobiology of PSMF1 in humans. Five patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) will be immediately available for the project.

The post is available from 01 October 2025 and funded by Parkinson’s UK for one year in the first instance, with possibility of further extension.

If you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online, or have any queries regarding the application process, please contact the Institute of Neurology HR Team (ion.hradmin at ucl.ac.uk).

Informal enquiries regarding the role can be addressed to Professor Henry Houlden (h.houlden at ucl.ac.uk) and Dr Francesca Magrinelli (f.magrinelli at ucl.ac.uk).

For a full job description and to apply for this role please visit UCL’s online recruitment portal (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/search-ucl-jobs) and search using vacancy reference B02-08998.

You’ll have a PhD in Neuroscience, Biology, or a related area, and experience in neurobiology research and in reprogramming and differentiating neurons from patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Experience in tissue culture, DNA, RNA, immunoblotting and immunostaining, and in microscopy and image analysis, along with excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills are also essential for this role.

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 £38,607 - £41,255 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.

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.

Customer advert reference: B02-08998

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