Job Description

Ref Number

B02-09929

Professional Expertise

Research and Research Support

Department

School of Life & Medical Sciences (B02)

Location

London

Working Pattern

Full time

Salary

54,931-64,644

Contract Type

Fixed-term

Working Type

On site

Available for Secondment

No

Closing Date

24-Jan-2026

About us

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The Sainsbury Wellcome Centre (SWC) brings together world-leading scientists to investigate how brain circuits process information to generate perception, form memories and guide behaviour. Developed through the vision and partnership of the Gatsby Charitable Foundation and Wellcome, and with substantial investment from these partners, the mission of the SWC is to generate experimentally testable theories of brain function. The Centre will comprise around 14 highly interdisciplinary experimental research groups accommodated in a new, purpose-designed building, offering an outstanding and unparalleled research environment.



SWC scientists use a broad spectrum of the latest advances in molecular and cellular biology, imaging, electrophysiology and behavioural techniques and enjoy state-of-the-art research laboratories, cutting-edge scientific equipment, technologically-advanced prototyping and fabrication laboratories and custom in-house high-performance computing facilities.

About the role

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We are seeking two outstanding Senior Research Fellows to join an exciting new project team bringing together members of the Branco and Margrie laboratories.



The project, entitled "The physiology of burrow surveillance and intruder interception in a non-mammalian species," offers a unique opportunity to work in a highly collaborative and multidisciplinary research environment.



The post is funded for four years in the first instance.

About you

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Experience in crab behaviour and physiology is essential for this role. You will also have extensive experience in cellular and/or systems neuroscience, and ideally in the hardware and software development required for the design and control of behavioural assays and recordings either in vitro or in vivo.



You will have a keen interest in working on novel animal models that are ideally suited for understanding the physiological mechanisms of ego- and allo-centric based navigation.

What we offer

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SWC offers staff an award-winning work environment in the heart of Fitzrovia with state-of-the-art facilities, an on-site brasserie and access to pleasant outdoor spaces. The Centre also offers the full range of UCL staff benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement, occupational pension schemes, excellent family-friendly policies such as occupational shared parental pay, a work-life balance policy, and a range of financial benefits such as a season ticket loan scheme and staff discounts. Further information on UCL's staff benefits can be found online: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/pay-and-staff-benefits.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

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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 UCL's workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. The Athena SWAN Charter recognises commitment to advancing women's careers in science, technology, engineering, maths, and medicine (STEMM) employment in academia. SWC is delighted to have received an Athena Swan Bronze Award in 2021. We stand by our commitment to positive action to improve equality and accessibility in the workplace. We will provide reasonable adjustments to enable people to work and flourish with us. SWC is proud to uphold both UCL's Dignity at Work and Work-Life Balance policies. As Centre we commit to fostering a positive cultural climate where all staff and students can thrive and