UCD Post-doctoral Research Fellow Level 1, UCD School of Medicine, 2 years
Applications are invited for a temporary) post of a UCD Post-doctoral Research Fellow Level 1 within UCD School of Medicine.
The Aherne lab at the Conway Institute is recruiting a postdoctoral fellow to work on an SFI funded project to target the mucus barrier in intestinal disease. Description
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic relapsing, remitting conditions of the gastrointestinal tract affecting approximately 21 per 100,000 individuals in Ireland, with rising incidence worldwide. Current therapies targeting the immune response revolutionised IBD treatment. However, up to 50% of patients fail to respond. Therefore, there is critical need for alternative treatment strategies in at least 50% of patients.
IBD is thought to occur due to intestinal barrier disruption leading to increased bacterial contact with the local immune system and uncontrolled inflammation in a genetically predisposed individual. As part of this barrier the mucus gel layer lining the intestinal epithelial surface plays a vital role in controlling tissue homeostasis, partly through exclusion of bacteria. The MGL is more porous, allowing bacteria to contact the underlying tissue in all IBD patients but mechanisms that support MGL function are poorly understood. We recently defined an important role for the secreted mucin Muc5ac in limiting contact of bacteria with the intestinal surface and reducing intestinal damage in mouse models of IBD (
https://people.ucd.ie/carol.aherne). In this project that is funded by an SFI Frontiers for the Future grant, we seek to investigate the role of adenosine signalling in mucin expression as a possible novel approach to protect the intestinal barrier. We will use in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo murine model systems that are unique to our group for these studies.
Location
The Aherne lab is located in the Conway Institute on the UCD Belfield campus. The group has a long-standing interest in understanding gut barrier function with an overall goal of identifying novel targets for therapeutic intervention in IBD. The group have a number of projects ongoing using in vitro cell cultures, organoid cultures and mouse models to study epithelial repair and the mucus barrier. The fellow will join a multidisciplinary group of MD fellows and PhD students with active collaborations with clinical colleagues and labs in Europe and USA. The Conway Institute is well equipped with core facilities needed to undertake this project. This is a research focused role, where you will conduct a specified programme of research supported by research training and development under the supervision and direction of a Principal Investigator.
The primary purpose of the role is to further develop your research skills and competences, including the processes of publication in peer-reviewed academic publications, the development of funding proposals, the mentorship of graduate students along with the opportunity to develop your skills in research led teaching. In addition to the Principal Duties and Responsibilities listed below, the successful candidate will also carry out the following duties specific to this project: • Collaborate with labs both in UCD and externally
Post Doc Level 1 Salary Range: €42,033- € 44,572 per annum
Appointment on the above range will be dependent on qualifications and experience
Closing date: 17:00hrs (local Irish time) on the 29th of September 2023.
Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time specified. Any applications which are still in progress at the closing time of 17:00hrs (Local Irish Time) on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system. UCD are unable to accept late applications.
UCD do not require assistance from Recruitment Agencies. Any CV's submitted by Recruitment Agencies will be returned.
The PD1 position is intended for early stage researchers, either just after completion of a PhD or for someone entering a new area for the first time. If you have already completed your PD1 stage in UCD or will soon complete a PD1, or you are an external applicant whose total Postdoctoral experience, inclusive of the duration of the advertised post, would exceed 4 years, you should not apply and should refer to PD2 posts instead.
Prior to application, further information (including application procedure) should be obtained from the Work at UCD website:
https://www.ucd.ie/workatucd/jobs/
