Director of UK Dementia Research Institute (DRI) Centre at King’s College London; and van Geest Professor of Neurodegeneration Research

King’s College London is seeking an exceptional Neuroscientist (clinical or non-clinical), to be the Director of the UK Dementia Research Institute (DRI) Centre at King’s College London and van Geest Professor of Neurodegeneration Research.

The mission of the UK DRI is to revolutionise dementia discovery science by undertaking original, ground-breaking research that will transform lives. The DRI is a globally leading multidisciplinary research institute of 700 staff investigating the spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders causing dementia, based in six different sites across the UK. The DRI has attracted some of the brightest minds in the field and given them the best technologies to elucidate fundamental mechanisms and identify new targets for drug development. DRI scientists are also developing diagnostic/predictive biomarkers and new therapies in partnership with biopharma to enable early intervention and disease prevention.

Applications are encouraged from researchers whose work is synergistic with existing strengths in the DRI at King’s including mechanistic studies focusing on defective protein folding/aggregation, RNA processing, intracellular transport and synaptic function. The disease focus at King’s includes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer’s Disease. Our translational work involves AAV and ASO gene therapies. Candidates will be internationally recognised leaders working on disease mechanisms, preclinical studies or fully translational interventions for neurodegenerative disorders.

The successful candidate will provide the King’s DRI Centre with scientific direction, vision and leadership, promoting the UK DRI mission of excellence in dementia research, and driving the partnership and collaboration between King’s and the UK DRI community. As well as designing and delivering a programme of cutting-edge research at King’s, the appointee will be a member of the UK DRI’s senior leadership team and will run their own innovative research programme in dementia or neurodegeneration. They will develop collaborative opportunities across the wider neurodegeneration community and industry, and contribute to the growth and success of the UK DRI. They will provide strategic leadership to a team of five Principal Investigators and 60 researchers based in the DRI Centre at King’s. They will contribute to teaching and advancing the scientific strategy of the DRI and King’s.

Candidates will have an international high quality research profile and high-impact publication output with a track record of attracting fellowships and grant funding, coupled with an innovative research proposal that interfaces with and complements the present portfolio and future science strategy of the UK DRI - at King’s and more broadly. Experience of running a large research programme, including the recruitment, management and development of staff and the management of resources, is essential as is previous success in identifying and capitalising on opportunities for the creation of IP and exploitation of commercial potential. Candidates will demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to work effectively in a collaborative and multidisciplinary setting, to communicate persuasively and professionally with a wide range of colleagues at all levels both within and outside of King’s, and to lead and inspire colleagues, creating a shared vision and strategy for the UK DRI at King’s.

The successful candidate will join a team of world-leading Neuroscientists who are at the cutting-edge of understanding fundamental disease mechanisms and advancing the prospect of translating these therapeutically.

For further details on the role, please visit www.minervasearch.com/ioppn. To apply, please send a cover letter and CV to ioppn@minervasearch.com .

The closing date for applications is close of business on Monday 19^th July 2021.