Research Assistant/Research Associate (Brain Cell Biology) (Fixed Term)

We have a short-term postdoctoral Research Associate position to study lipid-based mechanisms driving neurodegenerative diseases. This is a Wellcome Trust-funded post in the laboratory of Professor Janet Deane at the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research. Our laboratory uses a wide range of techniques to study how altered lipid metabolism drives changes in the cellular proteome causing neuronal pathologies.

The post holder must possess a PhD in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, or a relevant subject or have submitted or about to submit their PhD thesis.  They must have a good track record of generating high-quality data for grant applications and towards first-author publications. We are looking for an enthusiastic scientist with considerable experience in cell biology including complex cultures such as myelinating organoids and/or iPSC non-neuronal brain cell types such as astrocytes. Experience with cell-based models of neurodegenerative diseases would be highly advantageous. To excel in this role, the applicant will also need to have experience designing and developing functional assays to probe phenotypic changes in cells such as multielectrode arrays for neurons and/or cytokine arrays. An appreciation of the importance of lipid metabolism for brain cell function is highly advantageous.

The role will involve supporting other team members and so the successful applicant must have good interpersonal skills as well as the ability to communicate their work clearly in both formal and informal settings. Prior experience training postgraduate students in laboratory techniques would be highly advantageous.

We encourage creative thinking when tackling scientific problems and are keen to appoint laboratory members with experience adopting new technologies and approaches when appropriate.

The Cambridge Institute for Medical Research (CIMR) is located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and it is a collaborative institute at the interface between fundamental research and the clinic, with a mission to determine the molecular mechanisms of disease in order to advance human health.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until April 2026 in the first instance.

For informal enquiries please contact Professor Janet Deane at jed55@cam.ac.uk

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click the 'Apply' button above. 

Applicants must have (or be close to obtaining) a PhD.

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will initially be appointed as a Research Assistant moving to Research Associate upon confirmation of your PhD award.

Please ensure that you upload a covering letter and CV in the Upload section of the online application. The covering letter should outline how you match the criteria for the post and why you are applying for this role. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application.

Please include details of your referees, including email address and phone number, one of which must be your most recent line manager.

Closing date: 14th September 2025

Interview date:  23rd to 26th September 2025

For information about how your personal data is used as an applicant, please see the section on Applicant Data (https://www.hr.admin.cam.ac.uk/hr-staff/hr-data/applicant-data) on our HR web pages.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

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