"Research Assistant / Research Fellow"

This project aims to understand normal human hindbrain development. This brain structure, formed by the cerebellum and brainstem, plays important roles in regulating cognitive behaviours but also vital body functions. Its development however, remains mostly uncharacterised. In this project, the post-holder will characterise progenitor zones in the human developing hindbrain by developing and applying new methods to study progenitor behaviour and lineages. We have recently shown that human developing cerebellum contains spatiotemporally expanded progenitor zones and new cell types that do not exist in other mammalian species (Haldipur et al, 2019 Science, in collaboration with Kathleen Millen, Seattle, US). This project seeks to expand on this study to continue investigating the unique cellular features that characterise the human hindbrain development. The post-holder will develop human hindbrain tissue culture and sparse cell labelling of different progenitor types (DiI, viral vectors or plasmid focal electroporations) for long-term live imaging. This will be used to determine progenitors proliferative and migratory behaviours. The insertion of single cell barcoding in progenitor cells and single cell RNA sequencing analysis will allow for non-biased identification of cell types and reconstruction of cell lineages. Histological analysis will be required to characterise hindbrain progenitor zones. This project will generate critical new knowledge that is needed to understand normal human hindbrain development and to interpret human hindbrain malformations. The salary offered in this role is at either grade 6B (£39,148 - £41,833 per annum) or grade 7 (£45,103 per annum) and is funded until 31/10/2026 in the first instance.

We are seeking a creative, organised, hard-working and highly motivated individual to join the group of Dr. Paula Alexandre to study human hindbrain development as part of the neuro research theme of the Human Developmental Biology Initiative (HDBI, www.hdbi.org). Candidates should have a PhD (or Master’s degree, in the case of Grade 6B) or equivalent experience in neurobiology or relevant area. Previous work in cell and explant culture, live imaging and single cell methods would be advantageous. Candidates must have, or be studying towards a PhD. Appointment at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be at research assistant Grade 6B (spine points 25 - 28) with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis.