Research Associate / Senior Research Associate in Neuroscience

University of Bristol; West of England; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Bristol invites applications for a postdoctoral Research Associate / Senior Research Associate to study mouse brain circuits. The role involves data collection, analysis, manuscript preparation, and daily project coordination within a collaborative team in the School of Psychology and Neuroscience.

The successful candidate will have a PhD (or near completion) in neurobiology or a related field, strong data analysis and communication skills, and experience with electrophysiology

Qualifications

• A PhD (or near completion) in neurobiology or a related field.
• Good communication, organisational and data analysis skills, attention to detail, and desire to work in a dynamic, collaborative and supportive team.
• Experience with in vitro slice electrophysiology and/or in vivo recording of neural activity during behaviour is highly desirable.
• Previous experience with stereotaxic surgery and studies of rodent brain development are beneficial, but not essential.

Responsibilities

• You will lead a research project and be responsible for data collection, analysis, manuscript production and day-to-day organisation of research.
• You should be able to work independently, but also as part of a wider team.
• You will work closely with a dedicated lab technician to support this project.

Skills

Communication

Organisational skills

Data analysis

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in neurobiology or related field

Job description

The role

The University of Bristol is seeking to hire a creative and motivated postdoctoral Research Associate / Senior Research Associate to study the formation and function of mouse brain circuits. The collaborative project will be supervised by Dr Paul Anastasiades, Dr Emma Cahill and Dr Paul Chadderton. The study will combine a cutting-edge range of transgenic and viral tools, subcellular optogenetics, slice electrophysiology, and rodent behaviour in tandem with machine-learning based behavioural tracking and in vivo neural dynamics.

The role is part of a recently funded BBSRC grant to study how prefrontal cortex circuits are altered in a mouse model of autism. The project includes dedicated technical support, with a full-time technician also funded as part of the grant. You will join a dynamic, international team located in the newly formed School of Psychology and Neuroscience, with close ties to other circuit, systems and computational neuroscience labs at the University.

The project is part of wider efforts within the Anastasiades lab to understand the mechanisms of cortical circuit formation in health and disease. The study is motivated by emerging evidence linking the cerebellum to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and expands upon our exciting preliminary data and recent published work (for more information visit our website) into the development and organisation of the prefrontal cortex, including how it changes in neurodevelopmental disorders.

What will you be doing?

You will lead a research project and will be responsible for data collection, analysis, manuscript production and day-to-day organisation of research. You should be able to work independently, but also as part of a wider team. You will work closely with a dedicated lab technician to support this project.

You should apply if

• A PhD (or near completion) in neurobiology or a related field


• Good communication, organisational and data analysis skills, attention to detail, and desire to work in a dynamic, collaborative and supportive team.


• Experience with in vitro slice electrophysiology and/or in vivo recording of neural activity during behaviour is highly desirable.


• Previous experience with stereotaxic surgery and studies of rodent brain development are beneficial, but not essential.

Additional information

Contract type: Open ended (with fixed funding from 05/01/2027 to 31/08/2029)

Work pattern: Full-time (100% time)

Grade: I or J

Salary: £40,704 - £45,641 (Grade I) / £45,641 - £51,258 (Grade J) per annum depending on experience

School/Unit: School of Psychology and Neuroscience

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on Wednesday 18th November 2026

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Available documents

• ACAD108767 - RA-Senior RA - Job Description.pdf