Gene Therapy Post Doctoral Research Associate

Job description

We are seeking to appoint two organised and enthusiastic Post-Doctoral Research Associates. 

 

The successful candidates will be part of a team testing viral vector gene therapy reagents aimed at treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and fronto-temporal dementia (FTD) on a commercially funded project.  

 

The aim of the project is to optimise the dose and delivery of gene supplement and knock-down vectors in cellular and animal models of disease as proof of concept and efficacy for potential clinical application.  

 

Working with Professor Shaw and Dr Youn Bok Lee they will join a team of technicians and post-doctoral scientists analysing cells and tissues transduced with plasmid and vector constructs and quantify the effects on target gene expression.  

 

For in vivo work the candidate will sacrifice animals and harvest and prepare tissues for histological sectioning, staining, imaging and quantitative analyses. All experiments will be undertaken at a very high standard and all data treated with complete confidentiality 

 

You will join a research group based within the UK Dementia Research Institute (DRI) centre that is embedded within the Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience at King’s College London (  www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/depts/bcn/dri/lab-groups) within the Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute on the Denmark Hill campus.  

 

The DRI is a national consortium focused on cutting-edge dementia research funded by the Medical Research Council, Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK (  www.ukdri.co.uk).   

 

This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract till March 31 2023 

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

 

Key responsibilities

•         Perform laboratory work to optimise the efficiency of our preclinical studies.  

•         Deliver high-quality data from our preclinical studies including:  

•         Undertake rodent colony care, breeding and genotyping  

•         Optimise perfusion, harvesting, fixation and sectioning of animal tissues. 

•         Image tissues using slide scanning and confocal microscopes 

•         Undertake image analysis using advanced analytical software tools 

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

Strong experience of  

•         In vivo experimental methods 

•         Rodent colony maintenance and genotyping  

•         Tissue collection and processing for immunohistochemistry and biochemistry 

•         Advanced microscopy using confocal imaging  

•         Quantitative image analytical software and statistical analyses 

•         AAV gene transduction and expression 

 

Essential criteria  

1.       PhD in Neuroscience or equivalent biological field 

2.       An ability to work independently and within a team 

3.       Attention to detail and high standards of accuracy in all work 

4.       Conscientious and organised 

5.       Ability to time manage appropriately  

6.       Willing to work occasionally during weekends and bank holidays 

 

Desirable criteria

1.       Experience of AAV gene therapy