Research Fellow in Clinical and Movement Neurosciences

UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology

Job Description

Research Fellow

Research Department: Clinical and Movement Neurosciences

Reports to

Director, Professor Mike Hanna

Head of Research Department, Professor Tony Schapira Principal Investigator, Dr Ed Jabbari Research Fellow

Line manager: Dr Ed Jabbari

Grade: 7

Location: Queen Square House/On-site First Structure of the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology

Context

The Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences is a world-leading group that brings together expertise across the clinical and basic science spectrum of the physiology and pathology of human movement and movement disorders. The Department incorporates groups from the Queen Square and Royal Free campuses of the Institute and includes the Reta Lila Weston Institute and the Movement Disorders Centre.

The Department is in a unique position of pursuing research in basic neuroscience that is of direct translational benefit to neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, stroke, motor neurone disease, peripheral nerve disorders and spinal cord injury. Our Research Groups use a powerful combination of modern non-invasive research technology, theoretical and computational approaches and a variety of cellular, animal and human models to explore how the brain controls normal movement, and how disease leads to disordered control of movement.

Current clinical research programmes involve TMS, repetitive TMS, EEG, MEG, fMRI and structural MRI (VBM, DTI), while translational programmes include use of cell culture, molecular biology and transgenic approaches.

We have a strong interest in the cognitive aspects of motor control, including brain mechanisms of decision making and response selection. This is supported by sophisticated neurophysiological techniques for the monitoring of large populations of neurons in active brain networks. We have numerous collaborative scientific and clinical research links across the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL and particularly strong links with the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and the Royal Free London.

The Department also includes the Unit of Functional Neurosurgery, which leads research and clinical treatment of Parkinson’s disease, dystonia and a number of other disorders using Deep Brain

Stimulation and recording.

We offer excellent training in research and have well-funded and modern multidisciplinary facilities for studying cellular and animal models, human volunteers and patients with neurological disorders.

Main purpose of the job

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Fellow to work on the PARK-SEED study, an ambitious project which will focus on the development and use of seed amplification assays (SAA) in Parkinson disorders.

Our aim is to develop and apply alpha-synuclein and tau seed amplification assays to large longitudinal patient cohorts (PROSPECT, ExPRESS, PPMI) and post-mortem cohorts (Queen Square Brain Bank) to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of these assays when used in combination across the spectrum of Parkinsonian disorders. Our work will also support the use of SAAs in upcoming clinical trials for Parkinson’s disease (PD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) patients. Furthermore, we aim to integrate SAA measures with genetic approaches to discover novel disease-modifying targets for PD and PSP.

You will focus on the development and set up of tau SAAs in our lab at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, including the purification of tau substrates. You will then apply the assay to clinical and post-mortem patient biosamples along with data analysis for publications. You will also be encouraged to develop and lead your own projects of interest that are related to the primary aims of this post.

You will work with clinicians, senior postdocs, and early career researchers within our network, following open science best practice. You will supervise and track the progress of junior researchers (research technicians and PhD students) and have the opportunity to develop skills in SAA techniques, GWAS analysis, and the clinical assessment of patients in our longitudinal cohort studies.

Alongside writing papers for publication, you will be encouraged to submit abstracts for presentation at national and international conferences including the Movement Disorders Society conference and AD/PD.

This role will provide the opportunity to work in close collaboration with scientists at UCL, the UK Dementia Research Institute, and our collaborators around the world.

The post is available immediately and funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) for three years in the first instance.

Duties and responsibilities

• Work on the implementation of tau SAA at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, including the purification of tau substrates.
• Apply tau SAA to clinical and post-mortem patient biosamples.
• Supervise and teach SAA techniques to early career researchers and PhD students.
• Ensure data quality and accuracy, including developing written SAA protocols to maintain quality at all stages of data processing.
• Participate fully in laboratory and project meetings.
• Appraise scientific information and data, and draft scientific manuscripts, abstracts, posters and oral presentations for national and international meetings.
• Communicate effectively and maintain excellent working relationships with multidisciplinary teams, including clinicians, academics, research team members and other collaborators.
• Develop and facilitate collaborative research across UCL and its wider network of partners.

Teaching, research, and development

• Provide teaching on topics related to your work as requested by your line manager or Head of Research Department.
• Contribute to your Department’s multidisciplinary research projects as aligned with the departmental strategy.
• Prepare and analyse data for publications for the dissemination of research and for presentation at internal meetings at UCL, meetings with external collaborators, and national and international conferences.

General

• Attend and contribute to Departmental, Institutional, and university meetings, committees, and initiatives as appropriate.
• Always act in accordance with the highest professional standards and ensure that these are maintained in the delivery of all aspects of research.
• Actively promote equality of opportunity and inclusivity, supporting policy within the remit of your role.
• Ensure the highest standard of record keeping, maintaining accurate, complete, and up-todate records.
• Ensure confidentiality is maintained as applicable.
• Follow and actively promote the UCL Ways of Working.
• Takes responsibility to carry out duties in a way that embodies UCL's environmental and social sustainability values, actively supporting objectives within the remit of your role.

UCL’s Equal Opportunity

UCL's Sustainability Strategy, policies and The above description is not exhaustive, and you will be required to undertake any other duties as may reasonably be requested within the scope, spirit, and purpose of the post.

Job descriptions are reviewed on a regular basis including at the annual appraisal. As duties and responsibilities change, the job description may be amended in consultation with the post-holder.

You will be expected to actively follow all UCL policies and procedures and complete UCL mandatory training, maintain an awareness of Fire and Health & Safety Regulations, attend meetings as required, and undertake such training and development as may be needed for the post.

All staff are required to act professionally, cooperatively, and flexibly in line with the requirements of the post and the Institute’s Code of Conduct.

Person Specification

Note to job applicant: copy and paste the following criteria into your “Statement in support of your application” and describe underneath each criteria how you meet it, giving examples. You will be scored on how you meet each criteria.

Essential Criteria

Qualifications, experience and knowledge

PhD in a relevant subject area

Experience in biomarker-related research, including assay development Experience in bioinformatics and statistics analysis including the use of Python, R and Stata Experience of working in diverse teams, for example with clinical academics and scientists Involvement in publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals

Skills and abilities

Highly organised, with excellent attention to detail in record-keeping and the ability to identify data inconsistencies Evidence of effective teaching and strong presentation skills Commitment to high-quality teaching and fostering a positive learning environment for students Enthusiastic, self-motivated and resourceful, with the ability to work on own initiative and a flexible approach to work Strong motivation to explore new ideas, ask questions and develop innovative solutions to advance knowledge and improve outcomes for patients with neurological conditions Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a multidisciplinary research team Proactive approach to problem-solving and troubleshooting in a developing research project Ability to think independently and adapt to changing research requirements Strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

Desirable Criteria

Experience in the development and use of tau seed amplification assays Experience in tau substrate expression and purification Experience in generating and analysing seed amplification assay data, including kinetic data and serial dilution analyses

Interview / Practical Test)

Interview / Practical Test)

Apply

To apply for this position visit: ucl.ac.uk/jobs Please complete the online application form and use the supporting statement section to outline your interest in joining the Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, and how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role. Please also upload a recent CV.

If you have any queries regarding the application process, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, 23 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG (email: ion.hradmin@ucl.ac.uk).

For informal enquiries about the role please contact Dr Edwin Jabbari (email:

).

The post is available immediately and funded by the MRC for three years in the first instance.

Salary

The post is graded as UCL Grade 7 with salary in the range £47,186 - £55,099 per annum including

London Allowance.

Progression through the salary scale is incremental. Cost of living pay awards are negotiated st nationally and are normally effective from 1 August each year.

Appointment at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be as Research Assistant/Grade 6B (salary £40,603 - £43,749 per annum) with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis. It is expected that you will have had your viva prior to commencing in post.

Probation

Appointments are subject to receipt of satisfactory references and a probationary period of nine months.

Hours of work

Full time, 36.5 hours per week; times of work are as determined by the line manager or Director.

Hybrid working arrangements

The nature of this role requires you to spend most of your time working on-site (On-site First) and you are expected to spend 100% of your working hours on campus. Remote working arrangements can be considered for this post in consultation with the line manager.

Annual leave

Annual leave is 27 working days for a full-time member of staff + 6 UCL closure days in addition to 8 Bank Holidays.

Pension

Appointments are superannuable under the Universities Superannuation Scheme please contact the Institute HR Team, e.jabbari@ucl.ac.uk (USS).

Other benefits

UCL is a dynamic, global university based in one of the most exciting capital cities in the world. Not only does working at UCL offer the opportunity to work with some of the greatest intellects in the world, it also offers competitive terms, conditions and benefits to its staff. In our 2025 staff survey, 95% of ION staff rate the Institute as an enjoyable place to work and over 90% feel that the Institute has a positive working culture.

As part of the UCL community you can access free lunch hour lectures, exhibitions and museums and collections. On campus UCL has the Bloomsbury theatre hosting a range of performances and a series of bars, cafes, and other facilities, which UCL staff can use.

In addition to 41 days annual leave (inclusive of public holidays and closure days) and generous pension schemes, UCL provides a number of other staff benefits.

UCL benefits and policies apply equally, whatever the sexual orientation and/or gender identity of employees. Benefits and policies relating to employees’ partners includes both different sex and same sex partners.