Senior Research Fellow

Description:

The UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology is seeking a Senior Research Fellow to lead on the PARK-SEED Study, a prestigious project funded by the UK Medical Research Council. This role is ideal for a driven researcher with deep expertise in neurodegenerative disorders, specifically Parkinsonian syndromes.

The PARK-SEED project aims to develop and apply alpha-synuclein and tau Seed Amplification Assays (SAAs) across large patient and post-mortem cohorts (e.g., PROSPECT, ExPRESS, PPMI, Queen Square Brain Bank). The research will evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic utility of SAAs and support their integration into upcoming clinical trials for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Additionally, this work seeks to combine SAA metrics with genetic profiling to identify novel disease-modifying targets.

Key Responsibilities:

• Establish and optimize SAA protocols at UCL for alpha-synuclein and tau

• Lead the purification of protein substrates

• Oversee application of assays to biosamples with the support of a postdoctoral researcher

• Conduct kinetic data analysis and serial dilution studies

• Prepare research findings for publication and international conferences (e.g., MDS, AD/PD)

• Collaborate closely with UK and global research partners including the UK Dementia Research Institute

Candidate Requirements:

• PhD in neuroscience, molecular biology, or related discipline

• Proven postdoctoral research background with first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals

• Extensive hands-on experience with:

  • Alpha-synuclein/tau SAA protocols

  • Protein purification

  • Bioinformatics/statistical analysis

  • Data processing of SAA kinetic and dilution experiments

• Strong teaching, problem-solving, and communication skills

• A demonstrated commitment to academic excellence and team collaboration

Visa and Sponsorship:

This role qualifies for a Skilled Worker visa or Global Talent Visa, and international candidates are encouraged to apply.

Benefits Include:

• 41 days of leave (including holidays and university closure days)

• Defined benefit pension scheme

• Cycle to Work Scheme, season ticket and immigration loans

• On-site nursery and gym

• Enhanced parental benefits

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

• Flexible work arrangements considered

• Strong focus on Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)