Job Description

Job id: 069785. Salary: \xc2\xa341,386 - \xc2\xa348,414 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

Posted: 26 June 2023. Closing date: 31 July 2023.

Business unit: IoPPN. Department: Wolfson Centre for Age Related Disease.

Contact details: Prof Karen Steel. karen.steel@kcl.ac.uk

Location: Guy\'s Campus. Category: Research.

Job description

We are seeking two highly-motivated postdoctoral research scientists to investigate whether it is possible to reverse hearing loss due to different types of pathology, and if so, to determine the limits of the critical period for intervention. Mice with primary defects affecting different inner ear structures, including synapses and hair cells, will be used to activate expression of key genes after hearing loss has occurred. Structural and electrophysiological assays will be used to track changes in hearing function.

The ideal candidates will have experience in either mouse genetics or auditory research or (for one post) lipid processing by peroxisomes. The positions are funded by a Wellcome Trust Investigator Award and the Royal National Institute for Deaf People. One post is available until August 2025, the other until March 2026. The people appointed will report to Professor Karen P Steel at the Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, Guy\'s Campus, near London Bridge.

These posts will be offered as fixed-term contracts (1 x potdoc for two years 1st September 23 - 31st August and 1 x postdoc for two years 7 months 1st September 23 - 31st March 2026)

Funding is available for full-time work- 100% full time equivalent - but reduced hours will be considered for an appropriate candidate.

Key responsibilities

• Generate and characterise mice with required genotypes

• Carry out reversal experiments with auditory testing before and after treatment

• Analyse structural elements of the cochlea using confocal imaging, electron microscopy or similar

• Analyse and write up the findings for reports and publications

• Participate in general lab duties and train others in specialized techniques

• Promote the research by presenting talks and posters at meetings

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria * PhD in a relevant scientific field

• Background knowledge of mouse genetics or auditory research or peroxisome function
• Willingness to work with mouse mutants
• Evidence of good manual skills
• Demonstrated good imaging skills
• Track record of designing experiments, analysing data and writing up research for publication
• Experience in presenting scientific research as posters or talks
• Demonstrated good organizational skills and attention to detail
• Adaptable and able to integrate with other lab members and work well in a team
• Ability to work independently and troubleshoot technical problems effectively

Desirable criteria * Experience in whole animal studies

• Experience in molecular biology
• Ability to multitask and prioritise workload to fit external requirements

Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Further information

Please contact Professor Karen P Steel if you have specific questions about the roles: karen.steel@kcl.ac.uk

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

King\'s College London