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Research Assistant

Employer
KINGS COLLEGE LONDON
Location
London (Greater) (GB)
Salary
Grade 5, £ 32,676 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance
Closing date
1 Sep 2021

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Job Type
Research Related
Contract Type
Fixed Term
Hours
Full Time

Job Details

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Research Assistant to join a multidisciplinary laboratory based at the Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London. Our research, generously funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK and the Sean M. Healey Centre for ALS, aims to identify how mutations in the protein TDP-43 lead to neurodegeneration, including motor neurone disease and dementia.  

 

You will occupy a key role supporting a project that combines pluripotent stem cell culture, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, neuronal differentiation, and a plethora of molecular and cellular biology techniques to understand the link between TDP-43 and disease. Through collaboration with the drug development charity LifeArc, you will help establish a high throughput small molecule drug screen to identify compounds that can modify TDP-43 expression, potential candidates for therapy. 

 

We are looking for a highly motivated individual with a strong interest in neurodegeneration and laboratory-based research. You will be keen to take on a leading role in a research project to support assay development and data collection. A keen desire to learn new experimental techniques, build datasets for publication and advance our TDP-43 studies is key for this role. Any experience in cell culture (iPSC and/or neuronal), molecular biology (including qPCR), immunocytochemistry, and microscopy techniques are desirable but training in all relevant areas of research will be provided. 

 

Collaborators that are key to the success of this study include LifeArc, The Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience and The Healey Centre for ALS. The role will require short, shared periods of work at these sites to establish novel assays and complete drug screening work.   

 

This is a fixed term appointment to the 30/06/22 with a very strong likelihood of the funding and post being extended for a second year. 

The post is full-time - 100% full time equivalent. 

 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

 

Contact: Dr Matthew White, matthew.white@kcl.ac.uk for any additional information or informal discussion about the role. 

 

This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract to the 30/06/22. 

This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent

 

Key responsibilities

• Maintaining pluripotent stem cell lines  

• Neuronal differentiation of stem cell lines for experimental study

• CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing of stem cells to create disease models for study

• Carry out molecular and cellular assays to study TDP-43 biology

• Aid with manuscript writing and figure preparation

• Presenting at regular lab meetings, periodic departmental meetings

• Routine record keeping and preservation of laboratory data

 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.  

Skills, knowledge, and experience 

Essential criteria 

1.  1st or upper second class (or equivalent) degree in a biological discipline 

2.  Knowledge and interest in neurodegenerative disease 

3.  Able to comprehend and communicate in the English language to a level appropriate for the position 

4.  Strong record of teamwork and willingness to contribute to general laboratory maintenance 

5.  Reliable record keeping  

6.  Good oral and written communication skills 

7.  Team-oriented personality 

8.  Reliability 

9.  Organisational skills 

Desirable criteria 

1.  Experience in cell culture including pluripotent stem cell and/or neuronal 

2.  Experience in good laboratory practice 

3.  Experience in histology/microscopy 

 

Further information

The selection process will include a panel interview. 

This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service and Occupational Health clearance. 

Neurodegeneration research; Molecular Biology; Cell culture scientist    

Company

King's College London is one of the top 20 universities in the world and among the oldest in England. King's has more than 27,600 students (of whom nearly 10,500 are graduate students) from some 150 countries worldwide, and some 6,800 staff.

King's has an outstanding reputation for world-class teaching and cutting-edge research. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) King’s was ranked 6th nationally in the ‘power’ ranking, which takes into account both the quality and quantity of research activity, and 7th for quality according to Times Higher Education rankings. Eighty-four per cent of research at King’s was deemed ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ (3* and 4*). The university is in the top seven UK universities for research earnings and has an overall annual income of more than £684 million.

King's has a particularly distinguished reputation in the humanities, law, the sciences (including a wide range of health areas such as psychiatry, medicine, nursing and dentistry) and social sciences including international affairs. It has played a major role in many of the advances that have shaped modern life, such as the discovery of the structure of DNA and research that led to the development of radio, television, mobile phones and radar.

King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts are part of King's Health Partners. King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC) is a pioneering global collaboration between one of the world's leading research-led universities and three of London's most successful NHS Foundation Trusts, including leading teaching hospitals and comprehensive mental health services. For more information, visit: www.kingshealthpartners.org.

King’s £600 million campaign, World questions|KING’s answers, has delivered huge global impact in areas where King’s has particular expertise. Philanthropic support has funded new research to save young lives at Evelina London Children’s Hospital; established the King’s Dickson Poon School of Law as a worldwide leader in transnational law; built a new Cancer Centre at Guy’s Hospital; allowed unique collaboration between leading neuroscientists to fast-track new treatments for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, motor neurone disease, depression and schizophrenia at the new Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute; created the Cicely Saunders Institute: the first academic institution in the world dedicated to palliative care, and supported the King’s Sierra Leone Partnership in the Ebola crisis. Donations provide over 300 of the most promising students with scholarships and bursaries each year. More information about the campaign is available at www.kcl.ac.uk/kingsanswers.

Company info
Mini-site
KINGS COLLEGE LONDON
Telephone
+(44)02078365454
Location
STRAND
LONDON
WC2R 2LS
United Kingdom

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