There is a vacancy for a graduate Research Assistant to join a research group headed by Professor Alison Hardcastle. The Hardcastle lab fosters a collegiate and inclusive environment that works closely in a shared lab with several other PIs to form a large team (>30) at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology.

About the role

We are looking for a research assistant to differentiate retinal organoids which are used to explore the molecular mechanisms of retinal degeneration and test potential therapeutic approaches. The successful candidate will be motivated to contribute to high-quality research, with an ability to think and work independently and work effectively as part of team, with excellent organizational skills.

About you

The post would suit an ambitious researcher with a strong interest in the mechanisms of neurodegeneration, retinal molecular and cellular biology, and/or therapeutic development. The successful candidate will preferably have experience of stem cell culture and differentiation. They will also have experience of immunohistochemistry, transcriptomics and biochemical analyses. They will work as part of a multidisciplinary team, and with established collaborators, to investigate the molecular mechanism of inherited retinal degeneration using iPSC derived retinal organoids and animal models to explore potential therapies.

Applicants close to submission of their PhD will also be considered. Appointment as a Research Fellow at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD. If this is not the case, an initial appointment will be made as a Research Assistant at Grade 6b (£39,807 -£41,833) with payment at Grade 7 backdated upon award of a PhD to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis (with corrections)

Application Process

A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page. To apply for the vacancy please click on the 'Apply Now' button below. Please ensure you attach your CV and highest academic qualification. In addition, please ensure you provide a personal statement outlining how you meet the criteria to support your application.

If you have any queries regarding the vacancy please contact Professor Alison Hardcastle (email: a.hardcastle@ucl.ac.uk).

If you have any queries regarding the application process please email: ioo.hr@ucl.ac.uk.

What we offer

Working with some of the greatest intellects in the world, UCL also offers a generous pension scheme and holiday allowance, plus closure and bank holidays as well as enhanced parental pay and more. Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. Our department holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality.