Postdoctoral Research Assistant

Aston; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Aston University in Birmingham, UK, invites a Postdoctoral Research Assistant to join a Wellcome-funded programme bridging critical paediatric neuroimmunology research. The role uses preclinical disease models and advanced electrophysiology to uncover mechanisms and test therapies, collaborating with clinical researchers studying young patients.

You will perform targeted electrophysiology, conduct stereotaxic surgeries, and manage a colony while maintaining regulatory compliance and contributing

Qualifications

• PhD required in neuroscience, physiology, pharmacology, or related field.
• Strong hands-on experience in in vitro and/or in vivo electrophysiology and stereotaxic surgical techniques.
• Familiarity with UK Home Office regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Establish and characterise experimental models of paediatric autoimmune encephalitis and test therapies.
• Perform whole-cell patch clamp and local field potential recordings to study synaptic function.
• Conduct stereotaxic surgeries to implant wireless EEG transmitters and osmotic pumps.
• Investigate microglia and neuro-immune signalling driving brain changes.
• Oversee a genetically modified colony with breeding, genotyping and rigorous record-keeping per Home Office rules.
• Publish in peer-reviewed journals and present at international conferences; promote a safe, inclusive lab environment.

Skills

Electrophysiology

Stereotaxic Surgery

Education

PhD in neuroscience/physiology/pharmacology or related

Job description

Worldwide, three people are diagnosed with encephalitis every minute—and autoimmune/immune-mediated causes are now just as common as infectious ones. While earlier immunotherapy often resolves acute symptoms like seizures, children remain disproportionately affected by devastating, long-term neuropsychiatric and sleep disorders.

We are seeking an ambitious Postdoctoral Researcher to join a Wellcome-funded programme bridging this critical research gap. You will use preclinical experimental disease models and advanced electrophysiology to uncover how acute synaptic and neuro-immune disruptions drive persistent brain network changes—and identify new therapeutic targets to improve long-term outcomes for children. Working closely with an embedded clinical research team collecting longitudinal neuroimaging and cognitive data in children and young people, you will form part of a truly translational team.

Key Responsibilities

Drive Translational Discovery: Establish and characterise experimental models of paediatric autoimmune encephalitis to decode the cellular, synaptic, and network mechanisms behind chronic symptoms and test potential therapies.

Investigate Circuit Function: Perform whole-cell patch clamp and local field potential recordings to uncover synaptic and circuit dysfunction.

Capture Live Network Activity: Conduct stereotaxic surgeries to implant wireless EEG transmitters and osmotic pumps, analysing in vivo network connectivity and sleep/behavioural phenotypes.

Explore Neuro-Immune Crosstalk: Investigate how microglia and disrupted neuro-immune signalling drive persistent structural and network changes, contributing to complementary molecular analyses.

Manage Colony Operations: Oversee a genetically modified colony (breeding, genotyping, and accurate record-keeping) in strict compliance with Home Office regulations.

Share Impact & Foster a Positive Research Culture: Publish in peer-reviewed journals, present at international conferences, and engage with stakeholders and the public, while supporting a safe, inclusive, and sustainable lab environment.

About You

You will hold a PhD in neuroscience, physiology, pharmacology, or a related discipline. Strong hands‑on experience in in vitro and/or in vivo electrophysiology and stereotaxic surgical techniques is essential, alongside familiarity with UK Home Office regulatory compliance. You bring advanced analytical skills, a collaborative mindset, and a commitment to open, reproducible science.

What we offer:

Aston University is a dynamic and vibrant campus located within Birmingham city centre, which has excellent transport links via bus or train.

Excellent training and development opportunities.

A generous annual leave scheme with 30 days bookable leave and a further 13 days bank holiday and University Closure days.

Everyday discounts to a number of activities and retailers

Great family friendly policies

On site gym and pool with discounted staff membership available

Further information on our Benefits and Rewards can be found here

This role is likely to qualify for endorsement under the Endorsed Funder route of the Global Talent visa. This visa is for talented or promising individuals in academia or research in fields such as science, engineering, medicine, social sciences, or humanities.

See the Home Office guidance: https://www.gov.uk/global-talent

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Postdoctoral Research Assistant

Company: Aston University Salary: £41,885 to £46,970 a year Hours: Full-time Location: Birmingham, B4 7ET Working pattern: On-site Job type: Contract Posting date: 11 Nov 2026 Closing date: 11 Dec 2026

Summary

Worldwide, three people are diagnosed with encephalitis every minute—and autoimmune/immune-mediated causes are now just as common as infectious ones. While earlier immunotherapy often resolves acute symptoms like seizures, children remain disproportionately affected by devastating, long-term neuropsychiatric and sleep disorders.

We are seeking an ambitious Postdoctoral Researcher to join a Wellcome-funded programme bridging this critical research gap. You will use preclinical experimental disease models and advanced electrophysiology to uncover how acute synaptic and neuro-immune disruptions drive persistent brain network changes—and identify new therapeutic targets to improve long-term outcomes for children. Working closely with an embedded clinical research team collecting longitudinal neuroimaging and cognitive data in children and young people, you will form part of a truly translational team.

Key Responsibilities

Drive Translational Discovery: Establish and characterise experimental models of paediatric autoimmune encephalitis to decode the cellular, synaptic, and network mechanisms behind chronic symptoms and test potential therapies.

Investigate Circuit Function: Perform whole-cell patch clamp and local field potential recordings to uncover synaptic and circuit dysfunction.

Capture Live Network Activity: Conduct stereotaxic surgeries to implant wireless EEG transmitters and osmotic pumps, analysing in vivo network connectivity and sleep/behavioural phenotypes.

Explore Neuro-Immune Crosstalk: Investigate how microglia and disrupted neuro-immune signalling drive persistent structural and network changes, contributing to complementary molecular analyses.

Manage Colony Operations: Oversee a genetically modified colony (breeding, genotyping, and accurate record-keeping) in strict compliance with Home Office regulations.

Share Impact & Foster a Positive Research Culture: Publish in peer-reviewed journals, present at international conferences, and engage with stakeholders and the public, while supporting a safe, inclusive, and sustainable lab environment.

About You

You will hold a PhD in neuroscience, physiology, pharmacology, or a related discipline. Strong hands‑on experience in in vitro and/or in vivo electrophysiology and stereotaxic surgical techniques is essential, alongside familiarity with UK Home Office regulatory compliance. You bring advanced analytical skills, a collaborative mindset, and a commitment to open, reproducible science.

What we offer:

Aston University is a dynamic and vibrant campus located within Birmingham city centre, which has excellent transport links via bus or train.

Excellent training and development opportunities.

A generous annual leave scheme with 30 days bookable leave and a further 13 days bank holiday and University Closure days.

Everyday discounts to a number of activities and retailers

Great family friendly policies

On site gym and pool with discounted staff membership available

Further information on our Benefits and Rewards can be found here

This role is likely to qualify for endorsement under the Endorsed Funder route of the Global Talent visa. This visa is for talented or promising individuals in academia or research in fields such as science, engineering, medicine, social sciences, or humanities.

See the Home Office guidance: https://www.gov.uk/global-talent

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

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