| Type | Research Fellowship |
| Institution | Edinburgh Napier University, School of applied sciences |
| Closing date | 24 June 2025 |
| Title | Glial Homeostasis, Brain Ageing and Neurodegeneration |
Edinburgh Napier University’s School of Applied Sciences have recently launched an MRC-funded project – “Glial Homeostasis, Brain Ageing and Neurodegeneration” which aims to use interdisciplinary approaches to establish the molecular basis of ageing and susceptibility to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease, with a view to identifying novel glial targets for disease prevention and treatment.
This is part of a larger network of post-doctoral researchers and principal investigators at ENU, University College London and University of Glasgow, supporting the team with planning, execution and report of experiments, while contributing to the formulation and submission of research publications and management and direction of the project as opportunities allow.
What you’ll do
As Research Fellow you will have the opportunity to join Dr Fiona Kerr and work on astrocyte models to systematically characterise the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which a panel of newly identified human longevity-associated genes (recently published by the lab of Dervis Salih, UCL) coordinate key cellular processes associated with homeostasis of glial cells, and how these impact neuronal health and function.
The role will give you the chance to use your up-to-date knowledge of current issues and future directions within the fields of ageing and/or neurodegenerative disease research, to survey the research literature and environment, understand the research challenges associated with the project and subject area, and to develop/implement a suitable research strategy.
The post will also give you the opportunity to use your extensive experience of molecular biology/biochemical and imaging techniques to take a leading role in liaising with technical staff, as well as researchers from collaborating institutions to ensure continuity of experimental design and target identification.
Furthermore, you will be in an excellent position to use your relevant research experience, organisational, time and project management skills to document research outputs, maintain records and databases, draft technical/progress reports and present findings at international and national conferences as well as regular project-specific research progress meetings
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About You:
- A PhD in relevant biomedical/molecular biology field
- Sufficient depth of relevant research experience appropriate to an early career researcher, including experience of undertaking independent research
- Extensive experience of molecular biology/biochemical (eg qPCR, WB, ELISA) and imaging (confocal) techniques.
- A comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of current issues and future directions within the fields of ageing and/or neurodegenerative disease research
- Excellent team-working and communication skills