Research Technician

About us

The UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) is a globally leading multidisciplinary research institute of over 900 staff investigating the spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders causing dementia, driving a step change in our understanding of neurodegeneration, and accelerating the discovery, development and delivery of interventions that will help diagnose, treat, and ultimately prevent dementia.

Our laboratory-based research groups are located at University College London, the University of Cambridge, Cardiff University, The University of Edinburgh, Imperial College London and King’s College London.

About the role

You will work with the SCSO (Single Cell and Omics) Platform Manager to provide services, collaboration opportunities and technical support across the distributed structure of the UK DRI. You will work with researchers to ensure access to a range of techniques regardless of physical location.

You will use your experience to enable UK DRI scientists to apply the techniques to their research. As a scientist who values and prioritises collaboration in research, you will work with UK DRI researchers on a range of neurodegenerative disease types, mechanisms and models, implementing the best available technology for the job at hand and striving for excellence in data quality to help meet the scientific aims of the UK DRI. You will be involved in providing training in using the techniques for UK DRI scientists across the institute including UCL. You will support the Platform Manager in RNA extractions from a variety of appropriate tissues and Illumina library preparation for sequencing, running Illumina sequencer, single cell RNA-seq and method development when necessary.

The post is available from 01 November 2026 and funded by UK DRI for 1 year in the first instance.

For a full job description please visit UCL’s online recruitment portal (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/search-ucl-jobs) and search using vacancy reference B02-11254. To apply, please upload a current CV, complete the online application form, and use the supporting statement section or upload a cover letter to outline how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role. Please do not upload any additional attachments as these will not be considered by the selection panel.

About you

You will have a BSc in biological sciences or related subject area, or equivalent experience, and experience of working in experimental laboratory research. Experience of working with RNA (RNA isolation from various tissues, cDNA synthesis or Illumina library preparation or single cell RNA-seq), of data analysis of data produced using single cell or bulk transcriptomics, of carrying out immunocytochemistry and of working with UK Biobank data for studies investigating ageing and neurodegenerative disease is essential, as is an understanding of neuroscience and neurodegenerative diseases. Prior experience and the ability to carry out transcriptomic data analysis using R and strong problem-solving abilities are also a requirement.

What we offer

The post is graded as UCL Grade 6 with a starting salary in the range £36,433 - £37,277 per annum, including London Allowance.

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.

Customer advert reference: B02-11254

Advert information