Research Fellow X2 at UCL

About the roles

We are seeking to appoint two highly motivated individuals as Post-Doctoral Research Fellows in the Cell & Molecular Biology Unit at the UCL Ear Institute to investigate the genetic causes and molecular mechanisms underlying different forms of hearing loss. Both posts are initially funded for 36 months, and the salary range will be offered at Grade 7 (salary range: £39,508 – £42,674 per annum including London Allowance) depending on the applicant’s profile for the role and previous experience. This is a full time post.

The roles meet the eligibility requirements for a skilled worker certificate of sponsorship or a global talent visa under UK Visas and Immigration legislation. Therefore, UCL welcomes applications from international applicants who require a visa.

We will consider applications to work on a part-time, flexible and job share basis wherever possible.

Candidates are encouraged to apply for both roles if applicable (please submit separate applications for each role).

Post 1: Research Fellow in Age Related Hearing Loss
This post is available working with Prof Sally Dawson and Dr Mike Bowl as part of a Dunhill Medical Trust funded project “Revealing the mechanisms that underlie age related hearing loss” (RPGF2002189). The overall aim is to identify how novel hearing loss genes, identified in our recent GWAS into hearing difficulty utilising the UK Biobank Cohort, protect the auditory system from damage and how mutation of these genes leads to increased risk of hearing loss. The research fellow will use a combination of cell and molecular genetic approaches to investigate the role of these genes in the auditory system including characterisation of knockout mouse models.

Post 2: Research Fellow in Genetics of Familial Hearing Loss
This post is available working with Prof Sally Dawson as part of a project funded by the NIHR-UCLH BRC Hearing Health Theme. The postholder will use a combined bioinformatic and functional genomic approach to investigate the relationship between genotype and phenotype in familial hearing loss. Using whole genome sequencing data from large longitudinal health cohorts such as UK Biobank and 100,000 genomes to evaluate and prioritise novel causal variants and genes for functional validation studies. The effects of the most interesting variants will then be investigated using functional analysis of wildtype and mutated proteins in auditory cell lines. The postholder will liaise with clinicians and cross-disciplinary researchers within the BRC Hearing Health Theme to translate these findings into improved diagnosis and therapies for patients.

Please ensure you highlight the post you are applying for on your application form.