Postdoctoral Research Associate

About the Role
A Postdoctoral Research Associate position is available in Dr John Apergis-Schoute’s lab in the Department of Psychology, School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences. This BBSRC-funded work is in close collaboration with Dr Carl Stevenson’s group at the University of Nottingham and investigates the neural pathways regulating the relationship between emotional regulation and physiological arousal. This project will implement advanced circuit-mapping techniques where specific cell types and projections are genetically labelled and manipulated (optogenetics) for identifying the functional impact of prefrontal cortical projections to the periaqueductal grey – a subcortical brain region important for adaptive emotional responses. Collectively, this work aims to expand our understanding of the neural processes regulating adaptive emotional responses, with the aim of translating and developing better diagnostic and therapeutic tools for anxiety disorders.

About You
The ideal candidate will have a PhD in Neuroscience, Psychology, Bioengineering (or close to completion), or a related field. The candidate must have experience with animal research (Home Office UK Personal License is desirable), electrophysiological recording in acute brain slices, and data analysis related to such data.

The post is full-time, with a fixed-term contract for 12 months. The primary responsibilities of the role are to design and carry out experiments, conduct data analysis, and write scientific reports. Desirable skills include experience with immunocytochemical and microscopic imaging techniques for visualising and identifying neurons and their projections. In addition, there is scope for supporting PhD students, and collaborating with the Nottingham group and other experimental neuroscientists within the UK.

You will hold strong communication and writing skills and effective collaboration, with demonstrable outcomes. Self-motivation, teamwork abilities, and excellent research management skills are also important for the advertised post.

About the School/Department/Institute/Project
The role sits within the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, one of the largest Schools within Queen Mary University of London. The school has a strong research output and demanding educational standards for its students, but all members benefit from a high level of academic and social integration. In addition, the school is committed to equality of opportunity and holds a Silver Athena SWAN Award.

About Queen Mary
At Queen Mary University of London, we believe that a diversity of ideas helps us achieve the previously unthinkable.

Throughout our history, we’ve fostered social justice and improved lives through academic excellence. And we continue to live and breathe this spirit today, not because it’s simply ‘the right thing to do’ but for what it helps us achieve and the intellectual brilliance it delivers.

We continue to embrace diversity of thought and opinion in everything we do, in the belief that when views collide, disciplines interact, and perspectives intersect, truly original thought takes form.

Benefits
We offer competitive salaries, access to a generous pension scheme, 30 days’ leave per annum (pro-rata for part-time/fixed-term), a season ticket loan scheme and access to a comprehensive range of personal and professional development opportunities. In addition, we offer a range of work life balance and family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, and campus facilities.

Queen Mary’s commitment to our diverse and inclusive community is embedded in our appointments processes. Reasonable adjustments will be made at each stage of the recruitment process for any candidate with a disability. We are open to considering applications from candidates wishing to work flexibly.

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