Postdoctoral Research Associate, Academic Neuroscience

KINGS COLLEGE LONDON; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university in London is seeking a motivated Postdoctoral Associate to investigate primary headache disorders. Responsibilities include conducting independent research, supervising staff, and ensuring laboratory safety. Ideal candidates will have a PhD, experience in preclinical models, and knowledge in headache research. The role offers a fixed-term contract with a competitive salary, along with the potential for grade increase upon PhD award.

Qualifications

• PhD qualified in relevant subject area or pending results.
• Experience in preclinical models of migraine.
• Ability to work collaboratively between groups.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent research projects.
• Supervise junior staff and students.
• Contribute to laboratory health and safety.

Skills

Preclinical models of migraine

Rodent sensory testing

In-vivo surgical experience

Biochemistry

Collaboration skills

Knowledge in headache research

Education

PhD in relevant subject area

Job description

Offer Description

About us:

The post will be based in the Headache Group under the supervision of Dr Philip R Holland, a preclinical research group with expertise in primary headache disorders, electrophysiology, disease modelling, behaviour, chemogenetics and in vivo neural imaging technologies.

The Headache Group is part of the WSPaRC, with broad expertise in sensory biology (pain, vision & hearing) and regeneration (spinal and head injury). Based on the Guy’s campus, we are just a short walk from London Bridge station.

About the role:

We are seeking a motivated Postdoctoral Associate with an interest in primary headache disorders and related co-morbid conditions to help uncover novel disease mechanisms that can lead to the development of novel therapeutic targets. The individual will report to the PI of the headache Group, Dr Philip R Holland and will be responsible for conducting their own independent research projects, the supervision of more junior staff and students, while contributing to the running of the laboratory to include health and safety requirements.

This is a full-time post (35 hours per week), and the successful candidate will be offered a fixed term contract for 2 years.

About you:

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

• PhD qualified in relevant subject area (or pending results)
• Experience in preclinical models of migraine or related preclinical disease modelling
• Experience in rodent sensory testing
• Home Office Personal Licence
• In-vivo surgical experience and physiological monitoring
• Ability to work collaboratively between groups
• Knowledge and experience in headache research
• Experience in biochemistry

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the next page after you click “Apply Now”. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Further information:

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.

Interviews are provisionally due to be held in October 2025.

Grade and Salary: £45,031 to £47,379 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance

Job ID: 126285

Close Date: 09-Oct-2025

Contact Person: Dr Philip R Holland

Contact Details: [e-mail]