Research Associate (Post-Doc Scientist) at Imperial College London

Hammersmith Campus 

Research in the Division of Neuroscience addresses mechanisms that underpin nervous system functions and diseases. Investigators in the Division are exploring these through combinations of neurophysiological, anatomical, molecular, cellular and computational approaches, using pre-clinical models and clinical studies.    

The post is funded by the US Army to investigate the molecular and cellular underpinnings of regenerative failure after nerve and spinal cord injuries, carried out in the laboratory headed by Professor Simone Di Giovanni. 

The research programme Neuronal signalling and environmental factors in axonal regeneration after nerve and spinal cord injury focuses on understanding signalling and environmental control of axonal regeneration after nerve and spinal cord injury. This has the goal of achieving ground-breaking discoveries in the field. Extremely ambitious, forward-thinking, committed, skilled, and passionate candidates are invited to apply. 

The Research Associate will be expected to generate data of high quality that can be submitted for publication to high-profile refereed journals and to attract external research funding. 

Exciting recent research developments have placed the role of axonal signalling and transcriptional regulation at the centre of the capacity of axons to re-grow after spinal cord injury. These include work from our laboratory (see Di Giovanni S, on PubMed). Given that neurological recovery and axonal regeneration are not possible following a spinal injury, understanding how the re-growth of injured axons is controlled is key to enhancing axonal regeneration and potentially functional recovery. Axonal signalling and metabolic control seem important for modulating the complex gene expression program necessary for the regrowth of an axon. However, the role of environmental factors in signalling and metabolic pathways in axonal regeneration remains obscure. 

You will have a PhD in neuroscience, cellular/molecular biology or a closely related discipline, or equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience. 

• Practical experience within a research environment and/or publication in relevant and refereed journals
• Practical experience in a broad range of techniques including in molecular and cellular biology, as well as in in-vivo murine work
• Practical experience in a broad range of techniques including spinal cord surgery, molecular and cellular biology such as ChIP, protein IP and primary culture.
• Practical experience within a research environment and/or publication in relevant and refereed journals
• Knowledge of gene expression analysis
• Knowledge of research methods and statistical procedures
• Knowledge of research immunoblotting
• Knowledge of in-vivo animal experimentation, preferentially nerve and spinal injuries
• Ability to conduct a detailed review of recent literature
• Ability to develop and apply new concepts
• Creative approach to problem-solving
• Excellent verbal communication skills and the ability to deal with a wide range of people
• Excellent written communication skills and the ability to write clearly and succinctly for publication