Research Associate in the Department of Psychological Medicine

KINGS COLLEGE LONDON; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research institution in the UK is seeking a researcher to investigate molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration, specifically relating to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Candidates must hold a PhD in neuroscience or a related field and possess significant skills in lab techniques. This full-time role offers a competitive salary and the opportunity to work in a renowned lab environment.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to generate, maintain and treat primary rodent cortical neurons.
• Good experience with quantitative analysis of synapse/dendritic spine morphology.
• Prior experience in click chemistry and peptide synthesis.

Responsibilities

• Conduct basic medical research related to neurodegenerative diseases.
• Explore relationships between Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases at a molecular level.
• Collaborate with colleagues on animal work and clinical trials.

Skills

Generating and culturing primary rodent neurons

Experience with iPSC derived cells

Super resolution microscopy

Immunoblotting

Microscopy techniques

Protein and RNA extraction

Statistical analysis software (Prism/SPSS)

Education

PhD in neuroscience or related subject

Tools

Image-J/FUJI

Multielectrode array (MEA)

Ca2+ imaging systems

Job description

Organisation/Company KINGS COLLEGE LONDON

Overview

Research Field: Chemistry

Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2); Established Researcher (R3)

Country: United Kingdom

Application Deadline: 27 Nov 2025 - 00:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract: Other

Job Status: Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

About us

This role is based in the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CfHBA), in the Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London.

The IoPPN aims to change and shape how we understand, prevent and treat mental health and other conditions that affect the brain. We work to transform care for people who are affected by mental health and neurological conditions, through world-class research, education and training, to serve or communities locally and globally.

About the role

The post-holder will join a Rosetrees Trust funded research project which aims to determine the molecular mechanisms of synapse loss that occur across several of the major neurodegenerative, primarily with the aim of identifying means to halt them. The project spans from mouse to man and bench to bedside and will utilise many different techniques and advanced pieces of equipment available at the world-renowned Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute.

Specifically, this post will explore the relationship between the driver of Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid-beta (Ab), and the driver of Parkinson’s disease, alpha-synuclein (⍺Syn), with the aim of uncovering the common mechanism we suspect lies at the heart both diseases. The role will primarily conduct ‘wet lab’ based basic medical research but will also works closely with other colleagues involved in animal work, fluid-based biomarker discovery and the conducting of clinical trials.

Essential to this role is the ability to generate, maintain and treat primary rodent cortical neurons, good experience of conducting super resolution microscopy and performing quantitative analysis of synapse/dendritic spine number and morphology and previous experience of working with human iPSC derived cells and or organoids.

This is a full-time post 35 hours per week, and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 31st October 2029.

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

• PhD in relevant subject area (neuroscience or related)
• Experience and ability of generating and culturing primary rodent neurons and glia.
• Experience and knowledge of working with iPSC derived cells.
• Broad knowledge and wide experience of immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry, immunohistochemistry and ELISA.
• A drive to lead and progress science with a sense of urgency, exemplified through timely realisation of results and publications.
• Good experience of microscopy techniques, especially confocal and super resolution microscopy and use of Image-J/FUJI or other image analysis software.
• Broad experience of protein, RNA and DNA extraction and classical and quantitative PCR. Experience of synaptosomal preps and subcellular fractionation are both an advantage.
• Proficiency in Word, Excel and Power Point (or Apple equivalents), and Prism/SPSS statistical packages.
• Experience of immunoprecipitation/co-IP
• Experience of recombinant protein production
• Experience of click chemistry/protein semi-synthesis/peptide synthesis
• Experience of culturing brain organoids
• Use of multielectrode array (MEA) and/or Ca2+ imaging systems

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 page. 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 pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King’s.

As part of this commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process, it is our aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities.

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.

This post is subject to an Occupational Health clearance.

Grade and Salary: £45,031 - £52,514 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance

Job ID: 130805

Close Date: 27-Nov-2025

Contact Person: Richard Killick

Contact Details: [e-mail]