Research Associate / Senior Research Associate in Neuroscience

Salary: 

£40,704 - £45,641 (Grade I);

£45,641 - £51,258 (Grade J) per annum depending on experience

The role

The University of Bristol is seeking to hire a creative and motivated postdoctoral Research Associate / Senior Research Associate to study the formation and function of mouse brain circuits. The collaborative project will be supervised by Dr Paul Anastasiades, Dr Emma Cahill and Dr Paul Chadderton. The study will combine a cutting-edge range of transgenic and viral tools, subcellular optogenetics, slice electrophysiology, and rodent behaviour in tandem with machine-learning based behavioural tracking and in vivo neural dynamics.

The role is part of a recently funded BBSRC grant to study how prefrontal cortex circuits are altered in a mouse model of autism. The project includes dedicated technical support, with a full-time technician also funded as part of the grant. You will join a dynamic, international team located in the newly formed School of Psychology and Neuroscience, with close ties to other circuit, systems and computational neuroscience labs at the University.

The project is part of wider efforts within the Anastasiades lab to understand the mechanisms of cortical circuit formation in health and disease. The study is motivated by emerging evidence linking the cerebellum to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and expands upon our exciting preliminary data and recent published work (for more information visit our website) into the development and organisation of the prefrontal cortex, including how it changes in neurodevelopmental disorders.

What will you be doing?

You will lead a research project and will be responsible for data collection, analysis, manuscript production and day-to-day organisation of research. You should be able to work independently, but also as part of a wider team. You will work closely with a dedicated lab technician to support this project.

You should apply if

You have:

• A PhD (or near completion) in neurobiology or a related field
• Good communication, organisational and data analysis skills, attention to detail, and desire to work in a dynamic, collaborative and supportive team.
• Experience with in vitro slice electrophysiology and/or in vivo recording of neural activity during behaviour is highly desirable.
• Previous experience with stereotaxic surgery and studies of rodent brain development are beneficial, but not essential.

Additional information

Contract type: Open ended (with fixed funding from 05/01/2027 to 31/08/2029)

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on Wednesday 18th November 2026

Candidates must submit a CV, cover letter (including motivation for undertaking this project and how your previous experience would support our work).

Interested candidates are advised to contact Dr Paul Anastasiades, Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience via email: paul.anastasiades@bristol.ac.uk for informal discussions about the project prior to applying.

Our strategy and mission

We recently launched our strategy to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

Available documents

• ACAD108767 - RA-Senior RA - Job Description.pdf

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