Research Fellow

The Research Fellow will work as part of a team to identify new genes required for eye formation and size definition as well as unravelling their function to expand our knowledge of the aetiology of human genetic eye globe defects.

The research project brings together basic science and clinical application. It specifically focuses on the mechanisms of eye development in health and disease, in particular, the effects of mutations on eye development. Research techniques used include genome editing, whole mount embryo histological techniques, RNA transcriptome experiments, confocal imaging, and cell transplantation.

This research project aims to further our understanding of how cells acquire the eye fate and how the eye size is defined during embryo development. Furthermore, it aims to identify new genes required for eye formation and size definition as well as unravelling their function to expand our knowledge of the aetiology of human genetic eye globe defects.

The candidates should have a PhD in cell biology, neuroscience, molecular biology, or related discipline, ideally in zebrafish. Excellent communication skills and show a strong commitment to high quality research. (S)he is expected to have experience in zebrafish embryology techniques, adult fish colony maintenance and advanced microscopy skills. The applicant should enjoy working as part of a team as well as being able to work independently.

Applications are invited for the post of Research Fellow at UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, ranked the best place in the world to study Ophthalmology (CWUR Rankings by Subject 2017).

The successful candidate will join the newly established research team of Dr Rodrigo Young to investigate the role of genes related to human eye globe defects during development using zebrafish as an animal model system.

The post-holder will benefit from close interaction with the internationally renowned research teams (ucl.ac.uk/ioo), providing expert support in advanced microscopy, bioinformatics, and genome editing techniques.

This Research Fellow post offers an exciting opportunity to play a key role in research into identifying the genetic causes of inherited eye globe defects and studying the genes involved in their aetiology., 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.

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The salary offered for this post is £42,099 per annum inclusive of London allowance (UCL grade 7 spine point 30).

The position is available from 1 May 2024 and is funded for 24 months, in first instance.