Senior Research Fellow and Junior Postdoc

Those who need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online, or have any queries regarding the application process, should contact the Institute of Neurology HR Team ( ).

Informal enquiries regarding the role can be addressed to Dr Edwin Jabbari ( ).

Links to apply (Final date to receive applications is August 10th)::

UCL is now recruiting a highly motivated senior research fellow and junior postdoc to work on the PARK-SEED study, an ambitious project funded by the UK Medical Research Council that will focus on the development and use of seed amplification assays (SAA) in Parkinson disorders.

The aim is to develop and apply α-synuclein and tau seed amplification assays to large longitudinal patient cohorts (PROSPECT, ExPRESS, PPMI) and postmortem cohorts (Queen Square Brain Bank) to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of these assays when used in combination across the spectrum of Parkinsonian disorders. The work will also support the use of SAAs in upcoming clinical trials for Parkinson’s disease and progressive supra nuclear palsy patients, and aims to integrate SAA measures with genetic approaches to discover novel disease-modifying targets for PD and PSP.

You will lead on the set up of α-synuclein and tau SAAs at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, including the purification of α-synuclein and tau substrates. You will work with a postdoctoral research fellow to apply the assays to clinical and postmortem patient biosamples and undertake data analysis for publications.

Alongside writing papers for publication, you will be encouraged to submit abstracts for presentation at national and international conferences including the Movement Disorders Society conference and AD/PD. The role also offers the opportunity to work in close collaboration with scientists at UCL, the UK Dementia Research Institute, and our collaborators around the world.

The role is available immediately and funded by the MRC for three years in the first instance.

Previous experience in seed amplification assay techniques and protein purification are essential criteria for the senior research fellow role and desirable criteria for the junior postdoc role.