Postdoctoral Research Assistant - UOD1948

MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC PPU):

The MRC PPU is one of the world’s most renowned centres for research on protein phosphorylation and ubiquitylation (http://www.ppu.mrc.ac.uk/). Many world-leading researchers in the field of signal transduction have trained within the MRC PPU. The major aims of the MRC PPU are to advance understanding of the role of protein phosphorylation and ubiquitylation in cell regulation and human disease, to facilitate the development of drugs to treat diseases caused by abnormalities in phosphorylation, to generate reagents and improve technologies. A key remit of the MRC PPU is to train the next generation of scientists who will advance our understanding in this crucial area of medical research.

School of Life Sciences (SLS):

The MRC PPU is based within the School of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee, a world-class academic institution with a reputation for the excellence of its research, its high-quality teaching and student experience, and the strong impact of its activities outside academia. With 900 staff from over 60 countries worldwide the School provides a dynamic, multi-national, collegiate and diverse environment with state-of-the-art laboratory, technology and teaching facilities.

Division of Signal Transduction Unit (DSTT):

The Division of Signal Transduction Therapy (DSTT) was established in 1998. This division operates as a unique collaboration between scientists in the MRC PPU and signalling researchers at the University of Dundee’s School of Life Sciences and the pharmaceutical industry. The DSTT is widely regarded as a model for how academia should interact with industry. The DSTT operates as a simple bridging mechanism to enable our PIs working on ubiquitylation and phosphorylation to effectively interact with major pharmaceutical companies to help accelerate the early stages of drug discovery.

We are recruiting for an exceptional individual to join as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant in the laboratory of Dr Arpan Mehta. This is a fixed-term appointment for 12 months, with potential extension at the end of the term.

We are recruiting for a driven individual to join the laboratory of Dr Arpan Mehta, a clinician-scientist, with expertise in cell biology and/or gene-editing to conduct an innovative pooled CRISPR screen in human motor neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. The overarching goal of the lab is to undertake fundamental research to understand the molecular basis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a form of motor neuron disease (MND), through open and interdisciplinary collaborations within and outwith of our unit.

The successful applicant will undertake an ambitious project as part of the MND Accelerator (MNDAcc) initiative funded by the Medical Research Council and National Institute for Health and Care Research to make the translation of discoveries into therapeutics easier for motor neuron disease and frontotemporal dementia. The goal is to make robust discoveries and share data openly in the space of 12 months.

The project will investigate mechanisms of the C9ORF72 repeat expansion mutation, the commonest genetic cause of ALS. The applicant will undertake CRISPR/Cas9 screening of C9ORF72 patient-derived motor neurons (MNs) in the presence of glutamate excitotoxicity, and microglial inflammatory stressors induced by C9ORF72 microglia, to identify candidate target protein kinases that regulate the survival of MNs.

The successful candidate would also benefit from career mentorship from other PIs in the Unit including, Professor Sir Philip Cohen FRS and Professor Dario Alessi FRS (Unit Director) to help advance their careers. The project is highly innovative, and will be in collaboration with Dr Wenting Guo at NeuroStra, Strasbourg, France, offering opportunities for international networking, too. The candidate would be put forward for prizes as appropriate, and receive exposure to patient and public engagement and involvement, through Dr Mehta’s parallel role as a practising neurologist.

Overall, this position provides an exciting opportunity to be involved in world-class research projects and for the successful applicant to carve themselves a major international reputation. The successful candidate will have an opportunity to be trained in a suite of state-of-the-art techniques during the project.

Relevant publications:

• Mehta AR, Gregory JM, Dando O, Carter RN, Burr K, Nanda J, Story D, McDade K, Smith C, Morton NM, Mahad DJ, Hardingham GE, Chandran S, Selvaraj BT. Mitochondrial bioenergetic deficits in C9orf72 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis motor neurons cause dysfunctional axonal homeostasis. Acta Neuropathol. 2021 PMID: 33398403.
• Banerjee P, Mehta AR, Nirujogi RS, Cooper J, James OG, Nanda J, Longden J, Burr K, McDade K, Salzinger A, Paza E, Newton J, Story D, Pal S, Smith C, Alessi DR, Selvaraj BT, Priller J, Chandran S. Cell-autonomous immune dysfunction driven by disrupted autophagy in C9orf72-ALS iPSC-derived microglia contributes to neurodegeneration. Sci Adv. 2023 PMID: 37083530.
• Mehta AR, Chandran S, Selvaraj BT. Assessment of Mitochondrial Trafficking as a Surrogate for Fast Axonal Transport in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Spinal Motor Neurons. Methods Mol Biol. 2022 PMID: 35412284.
• Guo W, Wang H, Kumar Tharkeshwar A, Couthouis J, Braems E, Masrori P, Van Schoor E, Fan Y, Ahuja K, Moisse M, Jacquemyn M, Furtado Madeiro da Costa R, Gajjar M, Balusu S, Tricot T, Fumagalli L, Hersmus N, Janky R, Impens F, Vanden Berghe P, Ho R, Thal DR, Vandenberghe R, Hegde ML, Chandran S, De Strooper B, Daelemans D, Van Damme P, Van Den Bosch L, Verfaillie C. CRISPR/Cas9 screen in human iPSC-derived cortical neurons identifies NEK6 as a novel disease modifier of C9orf72 poly(PR) toxicity. Alzheimers Dement. 2023 PMID: 35993441.

Your priorities will include:

• Build C9ORF72-iCas9 iPS cell line and perform quality control followed by differentiation to motor neurons and microglia using published protocols.
• Optimise and perform a kinome-wide CRSIPR/Cas9 knock out-screen and sgRNA enrichment analysis.
• Validate the top candidate hits.
• Public and patient involvement and engagement presentations.
• Dissemination of protocols and data openly and through formal peer-reviewed publications.
• Advising and mentoring undergraduate and PhD students.

Candidate requirements:

• PhD in molecular biology with a track record of academic success.
• Highly organised, motivated and meticulous, with an ability to work independently and to drive a project forwards robustly and at pace.
• Expertise in iPS cell culture is highly desirable, although the successful candidate would be supported and trained (if necessary) by Dr Lindsay Davidson who leads our iPSC core facility.
• Prior experience in gene editing and CRISPR screens would be highly desirable.

We are one of the UK’s leading universities, internationally recognised for our expertise across a range of disciplines and research breakthroughs in multiple areas, including science, medicine and engineering, amongst many others. Our purpose is to transform lives, locally and globally, which we do as a community of staff (Professional Services and academic Schools), students and alumni. Professional Services directorates are key to delivering the University strategy and driving change across the University.

For further information about this position please contact Dr Arpan Mehta at amehta001@dundee.ac.uk. To find out more about MRC PPU please visit https://www.ppu.mrc.ac.uk/

Commitment to DORA

The School of Life Sciences has been fully committed to the principals of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) since 2013. In assessing applicants, we consider the scientific quality of their published research papers, but do not take into account where the papers were published and do not consider journal-based metrics, such as Journal Impact Factors.

As an internationally diverse institution, we welcome job applicants from all countries and nationalities. The School of Life Sciences is proud to employ staff from over 40 different nations.

The diversity of our staff and students helps to make the University of Dundee a UK university of choice for undergraduate, postgraduate and distance learning. Family friendly policies, staff networks for BME, Disabled and LGBT staff, membership of Athena SWAN, the ECU Race Equality Charter and Stonewall as well a full range of disability services, create an enjoyable and inclusive place to work.