Research Assistant

This Research Assistant post offers exciting opportunities for creative neuroscientists who enjoy collaborative, multidisciplinary work. In addition to having a BSc or equivalent qualification in a relevant discipline (e.g. biomedical science, neuroscience, engineering), the candidate should have a promising track record demonstrating their commitment to neuroscience research.

The main task for the successful candidate will be to contribute to ongoing projects in the Sharott Group using experimental animals. These projects utilise high-density electrophysiological recordings using Neuropixel probes in head-fixed and behaving rodents, with the aim of defining neuronal dynamics underlying motor learning and cognition. We use closed-loop electrical or optogenetic stimulation approaches to manipulate these dynamics with view to establishing causality and/or building towards novel therapeutic approaches for brain disorders. The candidates will contribute to different aspects of these projects including training rodents to perform behavioural tasks, data acquisition, data curation and processing brain tissue (sectioning, immunohistochemistry, microscopy). The candidate will work closely with D.Phil students and postdoctoral fellows to advance these projects. For candidates with appropriate backgrounds (i.e. with existing programming or electronics experience), there will also be opportunities for contributing to data analysis. This post would be ideally suited to young scientists that would like competitive laboratory experience before applying for a PhD position. However, post-doctoral candidates and/or candidates that have previously worked as research technicians will also be considered.

The post holder will be part of the Sharott Group based at the MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit (MRC BNDU), University of Oxford. The Group has a strong track record in studying the functional organisation of the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamic networks in rodents and humans. The Group use transdisciplinary approaches to elucidate the substrates underlying activity dynamics in these brain circuits, employing innovative techniques to monitor and manipulate neurons and to determine their influence on behaviour. The proposed research will take full advantage of the intellectual environment, capital equipment, technical expertise and excellent infrastructure in place at the MRC BNDU.

Additionally, the post holder will be contractually required to undertake business critical work at the MRC BNDU, including within its Biomedical Services Facility, outside of core working days for the equivalent of 2 days per month. The post holder(s) will be given reasonable notice of this requirement. An additional premium payment of 6% of annual salary will be made as a monthly superannuable allowance for undertaking this on-demand work.

Please see the below 'Job Description' for more details on the responsibilities and selection criteria, as well as further information about the university and how to apply.