Research Associate (Fixed Term) Cambridge

EURAXESS Czech Republic; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research institute in the UK is seeking a Research Associate to investigate protein degradation in neurodegenerative diseases. The role involves collaboration with the ARUK Drug Discovery Institute and requires a PhD. The successful candidate will contribute to groundbreaking research aimed at understanding dementia mechanisms.

Qualifications

• Applicants must have (or be close to obtaining) a PhD.

Responsibilities

• Research the ability of E3 ubiquitin ligases to degrade cytosolic protein aggregates.
• Uncover the range and requirement of ligases that can drive aggregate responses.

Skills

Neurosciences

Research

Education

PhD

Job description

Organisation/Company UK Dementia Research Institute Research Field Neurosciences Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country United Kingdom Application Deadline 25 May 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/London) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 30 Jun 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number ZE45925 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Dementia is the greatest health challenge of our century.

To date there is no way to prevent it or even slow its progression, and there is an urgent need to fill the knowledge gap in our basic understanding of the diseases that cause it.

The UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) is the biggest UK initiative driving forward research to fill this gap. We are a globally leading multidisciplinary research institute of 700 staff investigating the spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders causing dementia, with laboratory-based research groups located at University College London, the University of Cambridge, Cardiff University, Edinburgh University, Imperial College London and King's College London.

The mission of the UK DRI at the University of Cambridge, led by Professor Mina Ryten, is to create a collaborative, inter-disciplinary Centre that combines world-leading expertise across cell biology, chemistry, transcriptomics and genetics to understand the mechanisms driving neurodegeneration. We study all stages of disease in order to identify therapeutic targets with the greatest potential to treat dementia. Our existing research themes encompassing protein aggregation and clearance, ER dynamics, autophagy, DNA repair and transcriptomics, have already been highly successful and we intend to build on this momentum by continuing to recruit talented scientists.

We are seeking to appoint a Research Associate to join the McEwan Group at the UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge.

The post is a fixed term study in collaboration with the ARUK Drug Discovery Institute.

The successful candidate will research the ability of E3 ubiquitin ligases to degrade cytosolic protein aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases. They will build from recent discoveries that the antiviral receptor TRIM21 can evoke a potent degradation response against tau (Benn et al 2024 39208111), to uncover the range and requirement of ligases that can drive aggregate responses. Newly identified ligases will become the subject for collaboration with DDI for medicinal chemistry approaches.

For informal inquiries regarding the role, contact Dr William McEwan [e-mail]

Applicants must have (or be close to obtaining) a PhD.

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will initially be appointed as a Research Assistant (Grade 5, Point 38 £34,132) moving to Research Associate (Grade 7) upon confirmation of your PhD award.

Research Field Neurosciences

Additional Information

Additional comments

For informal inquiries regarding the role, contact Dr William McEwan [e-mail] The role will be based at the UK DRI, Island Research Building Cambridge Biomedical Campus, CB2 0AH

The University values diversity and is committed to equality of opportunity. We particularly encourage women and/or candidates from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background to apply for this vacancy as they are currently under-represented at this level within our University.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 28 February 2027 in the first instance.