Postdoctoral Scientist in Neurodegeneration
MRC Toxicology Unit, Leicester
Fixed Term for 3 Years
Salary £28,935 to £29,863 per annum plus allowances*
The Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, located at the University of Leicester, is an internationally renowned institution delivering field-changing mechanistic insights into toxicology and disease. The Unit is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and offers excellent opportunities for postdoctoral development. The Unit is expected to relocate to the University of Cambridge during 2019.
We are looking to appoint a Postdoctoral Scientist to join the Synpatic Toxicity group led by Dr Joern Steinert. The research of the group is focussed on the role of nitric oxide (NO)-mediated signalling in neuronal physiology and toxicity in neurodegenerative conditions. For more information see
http://tox.mrc.ac.uk/research/steinert-group/ NO-mediated neurotoxicity can be induced by various different pathways in several neurodegenerative diseases, however, its exact contribution to neuronal death remains elusive due to the great complexity of downstream nitrergic targets. The key aim of this project will be to identify target proteins subjected to nitrergic regulation, in particular post-translational modification such as protein S-Nitrosylation and nitrotyrosination will be investigated. We will focus on proteins involved in the conserved exocytosis machinery required for neurotransmitter release and key questions will be addressed by using electrophysiology in combination with biochemical, molecular and immunocytochemical methods in model systems such as Drosophila and mouse.
You will have been awarded (or in the final stages of obtaining) a PhD in a relevant discipline and have experience in biochemical techniques and neuroscience or synaptic signalling. Experience of cell culture and /or drosophila work and electrophysiological methods would be a distinct advantage. You must be committed to working at a highly competitive level, be able to communicate scientific ideas effectively and have published in a peer-reviewed journal.
This is a three year training and development position, upon appointment you will get the choice of undertaking a Career Development Fellowship or the MRC Postdoctoral Training Scheme. We support postdoctoral scientists in these positions with a range of formal and on-the-job training to ensure you receive the training relevant to your role and identify additional training to help support your future career.
*Additional allowances for the Postdoctoral Training Scheme include £1,000 initial settlement plus an annual allowance of £850 increasing to £1,300 in year two, and £1,800 in the third and final years.
For full details of this post and to complete an online application, visit
https://mrc.tal.net/vx/lang-en-GB/appcentre-1/candidate/postings/295 and upload your CV along with a covering letter stating why you are applying for this role. Please quote reference TOX 273.
Closing date for applications: 19 August 2016
