Research Associate / Senior Research Associate in Neuroscience

University of Bristol - Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Placed On: 6th November 2025
Closes: 20th November 2025
Job Ref: ACAD108351

The role

We invite applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate / Senior Research Associate in Neuroscience to lead experimental work in a new 3-year BBSRC-funded research project: “How does ultrasound neuromodulation change neural circuitry?”.

Transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation (tFUS) has emerged as a highly-specific, non-invasive brain stimulation tool, with uses in cognitive neuroscience and as a therapeutic intervention. This project seeks to explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underly the effects of tFUS, using a range of in vitro and in vivo approaches.

The project will involve conducting electrophysiological and biochemical assays in vitro and ex vivo. We will undertake in vitro and in vivo focused ultrasound stimulation of the brain and characterise the molecular mechanisms responsible for the effects on neural circuits, with a particular focus on the hippocampus.

What will you be doing?

You will lead on the design and execution of experiments to test the key hypotheses of the project. You will work with juvenile and adult rats to perform transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation and prepare brain tissue for further analysis. You will conduct electrophysiological (whole cell patch clamping, extracellular field recording) and biochemical (Western blotting, qPCR, immunostaining) assays.

As part of this work, you will contribute to the writing of scientific manuscripts and disseminate findings in poster presentations and conference talks. You will work within a collaborative team and contribute to the training and supervision of postgraduate research students.

You should apply if

You should apply if:

• You have a PhD (or be close to completion) in molecular or cellular neuroscience.
• You have a strong background in electrophysiology assays in vitro or in vivo.
• You have experience in small animal research with rodents.

Additional information

For informal queries about the role contact: Daniel Whitcomb, Senior Lecturer in Translational Neuroscience, D.J.Whitcomb@Bristol.ac.uk

Contract type: Open Ended with Fixed Funding until 31/12/2028

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on Thursday 20th November 2025

Our strategy and mission

We recently launched our strategy to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.