Job Description

About us
UCL School of Pharmacy is one of the worlds leading centres of excellence for pharmaceutical science, education and professional engagement.
The Division has a well-established track record in high quality research across a broad range of neuroscience, drug discovery, pharmacy and patient safety related areas as well as in the development of spinout companies bringing new therapeutic strategies to the patient.
The Division is one of the UKs leading centres of pharmacy education and research, enjoying a lively and stimulating academic environment in which teachers, researchers, professionals and students interact. All are connected by an interest in medicines - how they work, how they are made and how they are used by people to prevent and treat disease.
About the role
*Please note that Interviews will be on Monday 16th June 2025
The post holder will perform complex analysis of transduced primary astrocyte cell cultures to identify protein modifiers that may impact on Parkinsons disease phenotypes in the presence of LRRK2 mutations.
The project is focused on Parkinsons disease pathogenesis, aiming to elucidate the effects of LRRK2 modifiers on Parkinsons disease phenotypes. The post holder will perform complex analysis of transduced primary astrocyte cell cultures to identify protein modifiers that may impact cellular and molecular changes in the presence of LRRK2 mutations.
Selected validated LRRK2 modifiers would be then proposed for potential therapeutic targeting. The project requires the culture and transduction of primary LRRK2 mutant and wild type astrocytes with lentiviral vectors to knockdown (shRNA) or enhance endogenous expression (CRISPR-a) of LRRK2 modifiers.
The cultures will be analysed using basic molecular and cell biological techniques as well as high throughput imaging and analysis to observe modifier effects on LRRK2 and LRRK2 Rab substrate phosphorylation levels. The project is embedded in a larger international collaboration funded by the MJFF (USA), involving two PIs at UCL (UK), Prof Kirsten Harvey and Dr Claudia Manzoni, as well as several colleagues at the Universities of Dundee (UK), Padova (Italy) and Lille (France).
The postholder will meet regularly with Prof Harvey (cell and molecular biology team leader at UCL) and will also present at meetings with Dr Manzoni and the extended working team. This position is ranked a Grade 7 (Appointment at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be at Grade 6B) The postholder will be based in London at UCL.
If you have any queries regarding the vacancy or the application process, please contact the HR Office, (sop.hr@ucl.ac.uk) A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of the page. To apply for the vacancy please click on the xe2x80x98Apply Now button below.
About you
We are looking for a candidate with PhD-level experience in primary astrocyte culture and lentiviral transduction to knockdown (shRNA) or enhance expression (CRISPR-a) of endogenous proteins.
The candidate should also be trained in basis molecular and cell biology, and high throughput imaging. Ideally, the candidate should have experience in the field of neurodegeneration, however this is not an essential requirement.
The post-holder is expected to analyse and present data on a regular basis. This will include presentations at lab, departmental, project and funder meetings. In addition, the post-holder is expected to draft scientific reports for the funder and manuscripts for publication.
The interaction in a collaborative fashion with other members of the lab and wider collaborative network is also expected.
What we offer
We are searching for a candidate able to fill in this position on or before 1st July 2025. This role is an open-ended contract with a funding end date of 31st December 2025.
This role meets 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. The UCL Ways of Working supports colleagues to be successful and happy at UCL through sharing expectations around how we work please click on to find out more.
As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)

• Additional 5 days annual leave purchase scheme

• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)

• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan

• Immigration loan

• Relocation scheme for certain posts

• On-Site nursery

• On-site gym

• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay

• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service

• Discounted medical insurance

Visit to find out more.
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
As Londons Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the worlds talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCLs workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. Our division holds an Athena SWAN Bronze award, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality. You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here:
Available documents