Academic ConnectRef Number
B02-08969
Professional Expertise
Research and Research Support
Department
School of Life & Medical Sciences (B02)
Location
London
Working Pattern
Full time
Salary
£35,930-£41,255
Contract Type
Fixed-term
Working Type
Hybrid
Available for Secondment
No
Closing Date
25-Jul-2025
About us
The Department is seeking to appoint a Research Assistant (1.0 FTE), funded by a UKRI grant, to study targeted memory reactivation (TMR) in rodents. The role will be in the Bendor Lab (www.bendorlab.com) within the Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience (IBN), and led by Prof. Dan Bendor. The laboratory investigates how memories are prioritized for long-term storage by hippocampal replay. More broadly, the lab is interested in the role of the hippocampus in cognition, including memory consolidation and predictive coding.
The IBN is a hub of UCL’s behavioural neuroscience community. Our researchers are interested in how low-level neural processes such as the actions of genes, proteins, neurons and neural circuits collectively translate to high-level processes such as behaviour, prediction, emotion and memory. The IBN currently has five PIs, all working with rodents and exploring various aspects of the neural encoding sensation, perception, cognition and action.
About the role
The post offers an exciting opportunity to use state-of-the-art experimental approaches to measure neural activity underlying cognitive functions and behaviour. The post-holder will carry out behavioural experiments studying the underlying mechanisms of Targeted Memory Reactivation (TMR) in rodents, combined with DREADDs/optogenetics and large-scale electrophysiological recording methods, such as Neuropixels.
Additionally, data analysis using MATLAB (or Python) will be used to analyse neural activity in the hippocampus and cortex. A variety of procedures related to ongoing experiments in the lab such as surgeries, perfusions, immunohistochemistry, and microscopy will also be performed.
The position is funded for 9 months in the first instance.
We will consider applications to work on a part-time, flexible and job share basis wherever possible.
This role is eligible for hybrid working with a minimum of 80% on site.
This role meets the eligibility requirements for a skilled worker certificate of sponsorship or a global talent visa under UK Visas and Immigration legislation. Therefore, UCL welcomes applications from international applicants who require a visa.
This appointment is subject to UCL Terms and Conditions of Service for Research and Professional Services Staff. Please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/conditions-service-research-teaching-and-professional-services-staff for more information.