Postdoctoral Neuroscientist

Brain BioLink (BBL) is a strategic initiative supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC) with the aim to explore and implement novel technology- and science-led ways of human neurobiological research using tissues and samples from people participating in various UK cohort studies or trials. It is a project that could define the future of UK tissue-based translational neurosciences research. We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled postdoctoral researcher to join the Neuropathology team at the University of Oxford as part of the UK Brain BioLink consortium. This role focuses on developing, validating, and harmonising protocols for the preparation, preservation, quality control, and inter-centre transfer of viable human brain tissue slices, with the goal of enabling scalable, reproducible live tissue studies across the UK. The successful candidate will work closely with Oxford’s leading Tissue Engineering Unit, contributing to the design and implementation of state-of-the-art live tissue preservation techniques, ensuring high standards of tissue viability and functionality. Key roles will include the development of a standardised framework for live brain tissue workflows, including the development of rapid, non-destructive quality control frameworks (e.g. mass spectrometry-based quality control tools to assess tissue quality), as well as an assessment of the repeatability and reproducibility of tissue preservation techniques across multiple collaborating sites. The role also involves the systematic characterisation of tissue cohorts using mass spectrometry, contributing to the development of a robust tissue classifier. Finally, the candidate will integrate and analyse multi-molecular, multi-scale data from multiple imaging modalities including mass spectrometry imaging, spatial transcriptomics, MRI, microCT, and classic histology to provide comprehensive insights into tissue structure and function. This role is crucial for ensuring that tissue preservation and analysis protocols are both sustainable and reproducible, laying the groundwork for long-term advancements in translational molecular neuroscience. The integration of multiple imaging modalities will facilitate the development of a comprehensive tissue classifier, advancing our understanding of nervous tissue functionality and disease mechanisms. We are confident that investment in live tissue preservation technology, combined with the development of a mass spectrometric tissue classifier and quality assessment tools, will yield a more sustainable and impactful approach to tissue-based neuroscience research. The post is full time for a fixed term until 30th June 2027 in the first instance.