Job Description

£42,159 to £47,071 per annum

Overall purpose:

To work within the group of Dr. Marco Tripodi at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB), providing research support for work on behavioural, anatomical and electrophysiological studies in rodents. The post-holder will characterise the role of distinct neuronal populations in goal directed behaviours.

Main duties/ Key responsibilities:

• To assist with research by planning, conducting and recording the outcome of experiments.
• To perform tasks guided by your supervisor including wet laboratory work, purchasing and organising chemicals, ordering of specified equipment, computational tasks and data analysis.
• To present information on research progress and outcomes as appropriate.
• To conduct literature and database searches.
• To contribute to the production of research reports and publications.
• To ensure and maintain an efficient and tidy Laboratory.

To plan and manage your experimental work within the project along with your supervisor and other members of the project team.

To contribute to the overall preparation of research for publication.

To ensure the research is carried in accordance with good practice and in compliance with local polices and legal requirements.

To contribute to the smooth running of the research group, including the effective use of resources, training of others and taking responsibility for use of communal facilities.

Working relationships:

You will report to Dr. Marco Tripodi. You will interact and collaborate with Postdoctoral Scientists, Research Support Staff and Students, not only in your Group, but also other LMB groups, LMB facilities and with external Groups as necessary.

Person Specification

Education / qualifications / training required:

Essential:
PhD in a biological subject with a track record of published work in the area of neuroscience

Desirable:
Background in in a quantitative subject

Previous work experience required:

Essential:
• Competent, independent bench working skills including safe use of chemicals, preparation of buffers and other reagents, sterile technique, lab safety, and routine analytic calculations.
• Experience or theoretical knowledge of basic wet lab biology skills/techniques including cloning and cell culture.
• Previous experience in the field of neuroscience, particular emphasis on neural circuits analysis.
• Experience with design and analysis of rodent’s behavioural tests.
• Experience with in vivo studies in rodents.
• Experience with stereotaxic injections.

Desirable:
• Experience in viral design.
• Experience with RNA in situ imaging.
• Experience with electrophysiological or optical methods to record neural activity
• Holding a valid PIL license.
• Non-LLM-aided programming expertise in Python

Knowledge and experience:

Creativity and initiative
Essential:
• Ability to plan and carry out experiments, collate and analyse data.
• Understanding of lab health and safety.
• Practical experience of running and maintaining scientific equipment.

Desirable:
• Has developed new techniques / methodologies that have added value to scientific work.
• Experience of molecular biology techniques, including DNA extraction, genotyping.

Independent working
Essential:
• Proven skills in working independently and as part of a team with minimal supervision; good judgment in assessing when to ask for support.
• Can independently advance existing techniques and implement new methods.

Verbal and written communication skills
Essential:
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience in presenting scientific work.
• IT skills, including Word and Excel.

Desirable:
• Has made contributions to scientific papers.

Personal skills / behaviours / qualities:

• Reliability and enthusiasm.
• Strong organisational skills. Methodical and thorough.
• Passion for science and a desire to continue to develop skills and knowledge.
• Proactive in seeking solutions to problems and keen to take responsibility.
• Ability to work as part of a team.

Additional information:

Applicants are required to submit a full CV and covering letter.

Corporate Responsibilities

You must at all times carry out your responsibilities with due regard to the UKRI:
• Code of Conduct
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy
• Health and Safety policy
• Data Protection policy

s should be reviewed on a regular basis and at the annual appraisal. Any changes should be made and agreed between you and your manager.

The above lists are not exhaustive and you are required to undertake such duties as may reasonably be requested within the scope of the post. All employees are required to act professionally, co-operatively and flexibly in line with the requirements of the post, the MRC and UKRI.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

UKRI - UK Research and Innovation

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

As part of the pre-employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre-condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re-run, security clearance as required during the course of employment.