Maynooth University is committed to a strategy in which the primary University goals of excellent research and scholarship and outstanding education are interlinked and equally valued.
We are seeking an excellent and highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to work with Dr Martina Schroeder’s research group at Maynooth University and her national and international collaborators on a HRB-funded project that aims to generate a hiPSC-based preclinical model for DDX3X syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disease caused by germline mutations in the RNA helicase and innate immune signalling adaptor molecule DDX3X
The Project
The project will then use the new cellular model to analyse effects of DDX3X syndrome mutations on macrophage differentiation and function, with a focus on NLRP3 inflammasome activation. This is based on published work that characterised DDX3X as a positive regulator of NLRP3. This project will therefore explore whether DDX3X syndrome associated mutations may cause issues with NLRP3 activation and innate immunity in patients with DDX3X mutations, something that is difficult to ascertain from clinical data due to the complex mutational landscape and the rarity of the condition, and thus the project findings have direct relevance for patients. The project is highly collaborative (involving researchers at UoG, QUB and UCSC) and incorporates public-patient involvement (PPI), thus there will be many opportunities for the postdoctoral researcher to expand their professional network and skill set. We are therefore seeking a researcher who is comfortable working with multiple collaborators and engaging with patient groups and other stakeholders. There will also be opportunities to attend and present at both national and international conferences, and for continued professional development
Salary
Post-Doctoral Researcher (Level 1): €47,273 (point 1 with increments)
Closing Date
23:30hrs (local Irish time) on Sunday, 1st of November 2026.
Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time specified above. Any applications which are still in progress at the closing time on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system.
Late applications will not be accepted.
Maynooth University is an equal opportunities employer
The position is subject to the Statutes of the University