Research Assistant: Ribonucleoprotein complexes

UCL seeks a Study Research Assistant to support HDClarity, coordinating Huntington’s disease biomarker research and participant activities.

Dr. Owen Gwydion James and Prof. Jernej Ule are seeking a Research Assistant to join a team of researchers working on the roles of ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNP) and their defects in neurodegenerative disorders.

The postholder will work primarily with Dr. James and will be central to efforts to model RNA dysregulation in motor neuron disease (MND) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) using iPSC-derived neurons. The role will focus on cell biology techniques, in particular the generation, maintenance and characterisation of novel iPSC cells, their differentiation into neurons, and cellular phenotyping through imaging and sequencing technologies.

The postholder will contribute to data acquisition, quantitative analysis, and the optimisation of experimental workflows, supporting the day-to-day running of the laboratory, maintaining accurate records, and contributing to wider projects across the Ule Regulatory RNA Networks laboratory in collaboration with other team members.

The post is based at the Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Denmark Hill campus, where the UKDRI Centre at King’s and Ule Regulatory RNA Networks lab are located. The lab consists of 8 researchers including PhD students and postdoctoral fellows. For more information, please see the laboratory website

Working closely with other members of the Ule group, the postholder will be expected to:

• Planning and performing experiments and analysing data under the supervision of Dr. James and Prof. Ule, and supporting other members of the Ule group where appropriate.
• Generation of novel iPSC lines using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing.
• Maintenance and differentiation of iPSCs into neurons.
• Characterisation of iPSC lines and derived neurons using molecular and cell biology techniques, including immunostaining, western blotting, and RT-qPCR.
• Analysis of imaging data using automated image analysis tools.
• Management and maintenance of cell line stocks, reagents and consumables.
• Contributing to relevant publications in collaboration with other team members.
• Continuing professional development, including participation in staff development and review procedures in accordance with King’s guidelines, including annual formal appraisal.
• Ensuring the highest standard of record keeping, maintaining accurate, complete, and up-to-date records.
• Attending and contributing to departmental, institutional, and other meetings as appropriate.
• Adhering at all times to the policies, rules and regulations of the Centre, Department and King’s.

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.

This is a full-time post (35 hours per week) and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 31/03/2028 with the possibility of further extension dependent on funding.

Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the  Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.

Contact Person: Dr Owen Gwydion (Gwyd) James

Contact Details: Owen.gwydion.james@kcl.ac.uk