Research Associate 

Job number    ACAD104515
Division/School   School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience 
Contract type   Open Ended
Working pattern   Full time
Salary    £33,797 - £38,017 per annum 
Closing date for applications    19-Apr-2020 

A post-doctoral research position is available in the School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, to develop novel clinically translatable approaches to correcting inherited cardiac arrhythmia. This position arises through a 3-year British Heart Foundation funded project awarded to Dr Stephen Harmer and Professor David Sheppard. The congenital form of the long QT syndrome (cLQTS) is an important cause of sudden cardiac death in the young. Mutations in KCNQ1 underlie cLQTS type 1 (LQT1). KCNQ1 is the pore-forming subunit of an ion channel complex that is essential for cardiac repolarisation. LQT1-causing mutations reduce channel function, which leads to delayed ventricular repolarisation and an increased risk of arrhythmia. Mutations in KCNQ1 can perturb channel function by inducing defective trafficking, which limits channel activity at the cell surface. Defects in protein trafficking (mistrafficking) underlie other genetic disorders and clinically-approved therapies that target this basic defect have been developed for patients with cystic fibrosis. In contrast, approaches that can alleviate mistrafficking in LQT1 have not been identified. This project seeks to develop strategies that can reduce the risk of arrhythmia in patients with cLQTS by rescuing defects in KCNQ1 channel trafficking. 

A PhD (awarded or imminent) in Biomedical Sciences, Cell Biology, Biochemistry or other similar domain of life sciences is essential and an interest in ion channel biology is desirable. The role will involve the day-to-day running of the project, performing a range of research tasks and assisting with training and supervision of members of the lab. Previous experience of the following techniques: mammalian cell culture, cell and molecular biology, live and fixed fluorescence microscopy (confocal and near super-resolution) and image analysis is essential. In addition, experience of electrophysiology and high-content platform screening is highly desirable. The successful applicant will be highly organised and independent, and eager to learn new skills and interact with research and clinical colleagues. This position will be attractive to a highly motivated individual with a keen interest in basic science at the research-clinical interface. This position has funding for 3 years. 

More information can be found at: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/phys-pharm/people/stephen-c-harmer/index.html. For further details of application procedure or informal enquiry, please contact Dr Stephen Harmer at: s.c.harmer@bristol.ac.uk or tel: +44 (0)117 331 1543. 

We welcome applications from all members of our community and are particularly encouraging those from diverse groups, such as members of the LGBT+ and BAME communities, to join us.