This Research Technician post is funded by a Public Private Partnership between Parkinson’s UK (PUK) and global pharma for drug target and causal biomarker discovery in Parkinson’s disease: The Landmark Project.
We are seeking neuropathology Research Technician to work on an innovative, large-scale, public-private partnership that will use multiple layers of genomic and state-of-the-art neuropathology data generated on human post-mortem brain tissue for drug target identification and prioritisation (The Landmark Project). Landmark is a public-private partnership funded by Parkinson’s UK in collaboration with a consortium of global Pharma companies. The post offers opportunities to work on an internationally unique, large-scale dataset using cutting edge methods, as well as opportunities to interact with leading drug development scientists globally. A unique feature of the project is that each brain tissue sample will be linked to quantitative neuropathology, including measures of oligomeric tau and alpha-synuclein levels. The person appointed will work in a multidisciplinary team consisting of neuropathologists, neurologists, bench scientists, computational biologists and statisticians. The Landmark Project has an international profile.
Modern neuropathology sits at the centre of the Landmark Project and is crucial to its success. We are looking for motivated and resourceful scientists to join our team to help us to deliver our exciting program for patient benefit.
The post will be supervised by Dr Javier Alegre Abarrategui, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Neuropathology at Imperial College London, co-investigator and lead for neuropathology on the Landmark Project and Professor Michael Johnson, PI to the Landmark Project and a Research Associate in Neuropathology (TBA). Dr Javier Alegre Abarrategui developed the proximity ligation assays for quantification of oligomeric alpha synuclein (Roberts RF, et al. Brain 2015;138:1642–1657) and tau (Bengoa-Vergniory et al., Acta Neuropathologica Communications 2021;918), which will provide important quantitative measures of pathology for assessing causal influences on both disease susceptibility and progression.
Research Duties:
1. To work constructively with a neuropathology postdoc assigned to lead neuropathology for the Landmark Project.
2. To assist in the planning and execution of the research
3. To perform, cutting, staining and analysis of tissue for the funded project as required. This will include both tissue blocks in embedding in paraffin and snap-frozen material.
4. To learn and implement new tissue histological and immunohistochemical staining techniques, if necessary.
5. To contribute to the organisation and maintenance of the lab, for example making up and keeping of histological stains and solutions, maintaining the processing equipment in good working order and ensuring that consumables, including solutions and stains that need to be made-up are always in stock.
6. To maintain accurate and complete records of all findings.
7. Acquisition of microscopic pictures or scanning of slides.
8. To assist with the analysis of data if required.
9. To ensure the validity and reliability of data at all times.
10. To engage with the collaborators of this study.
11. To assist with the writing of reports to research sponsors if required.
12. To present findings to colleagues if needed.
13. To provide advice to other staff and students.
14. To assist with the publication of findings.
15. To attend relevant workshops and conferences as necessary.
16. To develop contacts within the College and the wider community.
17. To promote the reputation of the Group, the Department and the College.
Other Duties
18. To take initiatives in the planning of research
19. To conduct data analysis
20. To ensure the validity and reliability of data at all times
21. To maintain accurate and complete records of all findings
22. To write reports for submission to research sponsors and collaborators
23. To present findings to colleagues and at conferences
24. To submit publications to refereed journals
25. To provide guidance to staff and students
26. To attend relevant workshops and conferences as necessary
27. To develop contacts and research collaborations within the College and the wider community
28. To promote the reputation of the Group, the Department and Imperial College
29. To provide guidance to Students
30. To contribute to future bids for research grants
31. To conduct and plan own scientific work with appropriate supervision.
32. To maintain highly organised and accurate record of experimental work.
33. To actively participate in the research programme of the Group and Unit
34. To publish in high quality journals and to present data at national and international meetings.
35. To participate in Group/Unit research meetings and internal seminars.
36. To collaborate with other allied scientists within Imperial College and elsewhere in London and abroad, as appropriate.
37. To contribute to the smooth running of the Group’s/Unit’s laboratories and, facilities with other scientists, clinicians, technicians and students within the laboratories.
38. Assist in the supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate research students and research assistants as required.
A Research Technician in Neuropathology. Ability, focus, drive, ambition, and communication skills are a priority. The post will suit someone wishing to expand their neuropathology training and expertise into modern neuropathology.
39. The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity.
40. Grow your career: gain access to Imperial’s sector-leading as well as opportunities for promotion and progression.
41. Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 39 days off a year and generous pension schemes).
42. Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various and resources to support your personal and professional .