We are seeking to recruit a highly motivated Research Associate to be a part of a team working on a BHF-funded programme grant which focuses on the role of a specific population of brain cells in control in cardiac function in health and disease. The Programme, led by UCL will use a wide range of methods in animal models and also in human patients. The key hypothesis of the grant is that Vagal activity optimises cardiac function to support the physiological requirements of exercise.

Specific Aims of the project are:

1. To determine changes in the activity pattern of vagal preganglionic neurones during dynamic exercise in experimental animals.
2. To investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying vagal neuronal plasticity in response to exercise training and in developing cardiovascular disease in experimental animals.
3. To determine the mechanisms underlying vagal control of myocardial gene expression, β-adrenoceptor responsiveness and ventricular contractility in experimental animals.
4. To determine the effect of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) on exercise capacity in healthy volunteers.

Bristol is responsible for supporting this programme with new molecular tools and will also feed in the gene profiling and cellular-molecular aspects of the study. We will be developing and validating novel viral tools and gene expression analysis protocols, validating new tools and performing additional experiments to feed into joint publications. Hence, experience in generation of viral vectors is essential. Experience with handling animals and preparation of cultures and cultured slices is also very important. Applicants should have a PhD (awarded or imminent) in Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience. We expect to get novel and exciting data which will be suitable for publications in high impact journals. The post would suit PhD graduates who have worked closely on related topics so that the project can commence without delay, although additional training will be provided where needed.

For informal enquiries please contact Professor Sergey Kasparov on +44 (0)117 331 2275, email: Sergey.Kasparov@bristol.ac.uk or Dr Anja Teschemacher on +44 (0)117 331 1461, email: Anja.Teschemacher@bristol.ac.uk.