Postdoctoral Researcher - UOD2295

The MRC PPU is a world-renowned centre for protein phosphorylation and ubiquitylation research. The 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, and to train the next generation of scientists who will advance our understanding in this crucial area of medical research.

We are recruiting up to four postdoctoral scientists (fixed term, 36 months) to join an exciting new collaborative project funded by the Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) network (parkinsonsroadmap.org/news/261m-investment-toward-personalized-treatments) with expertise in signalling, cell biology, mouse neurobiology, CRISPR gene-editing or proteomics to investigate the role of mitochondrial mechanisms underlying Parkinson’s disease. The project will be based in the Muqi t or Ganley Labs at the University of Dundee and seeks to understand the molecular and mitochondrial basis of Parkinson’s disease (PD), through open and interdisciplinary collaborations with leading research groups based at Harvard Medical School, UCLA and Gottingen University.

ASAP places high value in training the next generation of researchers and provides to those that are eligible a family care stipend – up to $10,000 USD which can be applied for following appointment.

The successful applicant(s) will undertake discovery-driven research projects as part of the ASAP award guided by principles in open science and resource sharing with the goal of advancing understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of PD. The project will investigate the role of mitochondria in PD. Previous research by the Muqit and Ganley labs contributed to the development of targeted therapies for PINK1-induced mitophagy, which entered clinical trials last year. However, recent advances have highlighted additional cellular pathways, including proteostatic stress as modulators of mitophagy. The projects aim to uncover new understanding of mitochondrial stress that may lead to new concepts for therapeutic exploitation in PD.

Relevant publications:

• Singh, P.K., et al. (2025) Kinome screening identifies integrated stress response kinase EIF2AK1 / HRI as a negative regulator of PINK1 mitophagy signalling. Science Adv 11: eadn2528.
• Bagnoli, E., et al. (2025) Endogenous LRRK2 and PINK1 function in a convergent neuroprotective ciliogenesis pathway in the brain. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 122: e2412029122.
• Longo, M., et al. (2024) Opposing roles for AMPK in regulating distinct mitophagy pathways. Mol Cell 84: doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.10.025.

Your priorities will include:

• Molecular based mechanistic research studies
• Design and performing CRSIPR/screens
• Proteomic discovery platforms

Candidate requirements:

• PhD in life sciences
• strong background in biochemistry, cell biology, proteomics.
• strong interest in molecular pathways, how disruptions of these pathways are linked to human disease.
• Strong ability to work independently and with a team
• Highly organised and excellent communication skills

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.

For further information about this position please contact Prof Miratul Muqit at m.muqit@dundee.ac.uk. or Prof Ian Ganley at i.ganley@dundee.ac.uk. To find out more about MRC PPU please visit www.ppu.mrc.ac.uk

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