Offer Description
Job Title: Postdoctoral researcher; in vivo gene therapy for epilepsy and rare neurodevelopmental disorders
Department: Department of Physiology & Medical Physics and FutureNeuro Research Centre
Reporting to: Prof David Henshall
Location: FutureNeuro Research Centre RCSI 118 St Stephen’s Green
Contract/Duration: Specific Purpose (up to 12months) - Full time
Remuneration: Up to point 2 of the Post Doctoral researcher scale, depending on experience
Closing Date: 9:00 am on Tuesday 15th of September
About Our Research
RCSI recognises that excellence in research is critical to the quality of its educational activities, its credibility, and, overall, to its mission to enhance human health. RCSI’s research strategy aims to build upon its strength in translational biomedical and clinical research to deliver transformational, high impact changes in health care. Targeting both Irish national and EU funding, along with increased collaboration with industry, is a major part of the RCSI research strategy. Forging increased collaboration between RCSI PIs and industry is of critical importance to achieving success in this area. RCSI is also committed to provide its researchers with the supports and developmental opportunities to enable them to continuously grow and support their overall career development.
Overview of the role
A Postdoctoral Researcher position is available in the laboratory of Prof David Henshall at the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Ireland.
We are seeking a self-motivated, creative and collaborative team member with a recent PhD in neuroscience or a related discipline. The successful candidate is expected to lead research on the effects of new gene therapy-based treatments for acquired and genetic epilepsies. The main role is to perform in vivo studies testing minimally-invasive methods to deliver gene therapies in preclinical mouse models. The research will include colony management and genotyping, deployment and evaluation of in vivo gene therapy treatments, EEG and behavioral assessments, histology and molecular studies.
The researcher will join a team based at the RCSI campus and FutureNeuro Research Centre in Dublin city centre, a multi-disciplinary and inter-institutional research programme focused on developing new treatments and technologies for devastating brain diseases, with access to world-class facilities and collaborative research teams (www.futureneurocentre.ie).
Specifically, the duties of the post are:
- Lead in vivo research projects to discover and test the effects of new gene therapy-based treatments for acquired and genetic epilepsies in mouse models
- Perform in vivo studies testing methods to deliver gene therapies in preclinical mouse models
- Perform EEG and behavioral assessments of the effects of experimental therapies in mouse models
- Assistant with management and genotyping of mouse colonies
- Use statistical methods and other research tools to evaluate the effects of in vivo gene therapy treatments
- Perform tissue processing, histology and molecular studies using samples from mouse models
- Collaborate and support epilepsy research with other members of the team
Person Specification:
- Expertise with in vivo models of brain injury, stereotaxic surgery, rodent behavioral assays, histology and neurochemical assays
- Publication and/or funding record reflecting productivity commensurate with experience
- Careful and organized and able to interact in a busy scientific environment
- Effective communication style
- Proficiency in Computer/Presentation skills
- Ability to make decisions and meet deadlines
- Ability to work on one’s own initiative as well as in a team environment
Qualifications – (Essential):
- A PhD in neuroscience, pharmacology or related discipline.
Knowledge & Experience – (Essential):
- Broad understanding of causes, treatments and models of brain diseases
- Expertise with in vivo models of brain injury, stereotaxic surgery, rodent behavioral assays, histology and neurochemical assays
- Published research and/or funding record on rodent models of brain injury
- Experience working alone as well as part of a team in a busy scientific environment
- Proficiency in Computer/Presentation skills
We are all too aware that imposter syndrome and the confidence gap can sometimes stop fantastic candidates putting themselves forward, so please do submit an application — we’d love to hear from you.
Application Process
Please apply online through the RCSI careers portal on the closing date with your CV and cover letter.
Click here to read our Recruitment and Selection Policy for Researcher.
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