Research Associate

About us:

The UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) is the biggest UK initiative supporting research to fill the major knowledge gap in our basic understanding of the diseases that cause dementia.

We are a globally leading multidisciplinary research institute of 700 staff investigating the spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders causing dementia, driving a change in our understanding of neurodegeneration and accelerating the discovery, development and delivery of interventions that will help diagnose, treat and ultimately prevent dementia. Our laboratory-based research groups are located at King’s College London, University College London, the University of Cambridge, Cardiff University, Edinburgh University, and Imperial College London.

Dementia is a major health challenge of our century – currently affecting fifty million people worldwide, projected to triple by 2050, with huge financial, emotional and social impact on people directly affected, their carers, families and the community.

Dementia is a symptom of several neurodegenerative disorders, with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for about 60% of cases. To date, there is no way to prevent or even slow the rate of progression of neurodegeneration.

About the role:

Dr Andrea Serio & Dr. Sarah Marzi are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Research Associate at the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) at King’s College London.

This opportunity would suit a bright, talented, highly motivated, and ambitious individual to who will play a key role working on a project focused on the development of a multiomic platform to investigate early molecular signatures of ALS pathology in human motor neurons using a novel system developed in the Serio lab.

The successful candidate will have a demonstrable track record and experience bioinformatics and data analysis, particularly -omics approaches in biology and a keen interest in neuroscience and neurodegeneration. Demonstrable experience dealing with iPSC-derived cultures and data in the context of neurobiology or neurodegeneration studies is desirable.

The successful candidate will have at least a PhD in a relevant field and postdoctoral experience in a research lab with projects, preferably focused on neurobiology or neurodegeneration.

The post holder will work with other team members across the Serio and Marzi lab to generate stem cell-based models of ALS using a novel cell culture platform developed in the Serio lab for the study of axons, and will lead on the multiomic analysis to compare different genotypes.

The post holder will specifically generate multiomic data, including next-generation sequencing and proteomic data from in vitro models of ALS, and analyse newly generated data and public datasets that may include RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, proteomics and single cell/nuclei datasets.

Successful candidates will be highly motivated with demonstrable experience in multiomics and bioinformatics, with an interest or basic understanding of stem cell modelling applied to neuroscience and neurodegeneration studies.

The post will be linked to a MNDA project and a UK DRI funded programme and will take place between the Basic & Clinical Neuroscience department and the Francis Crick Institute.

Some of the key skills involved include;

• To conduct high quality research under the supervision of Dr Serio and Dr Marzi, and in collaboration with other members of the Serio group.
• To present findings in regular group meetings to the PI and colleagues.
• Work in a collaborative manner, sharing knowledge and expertise within the team, department and with collaborators.

This is a full -time post (35 hours per week) and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 30/09/2028