Laboratory Research Scientist

Laboratory Research Scientist

Reporting to: Sila Ultanir, Senior group leader

Contract term: This is a full-time, fixed term (1 year) position on Crick terms and conditions of employment.

The Role

An exciting opportunity for a motivated research technician/laboratory research scientist to join Kinases and Brain Development laboratory https://www.crick.ac.uk/research/labs/sila-ultanir at the Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.

Ultanir lab is recruiting a Laboratory Research Scientist (LRS) role. The LRS will collaborate with members of the lab and help with human iPSC cultures, including their maintenance and characterization. She/he will also receive training to assist with mass spectrometry experiments.

The role of a Laboratory Research Scientist in the Crick is diverse and rewarding. The role covers a wide range of different functions and allows for continuity of lab operations. The role offers support to one or more scientific projects or programmes. Typical activities include:

• Collaborating with other lab members on research projects.
• Providing experimental or technical support to other lab members.
• Providing technical expertise for the development, refinement and troubleshooting of relevant methodologies.
• Participating in academic activities, including group meetings and journal clubs, seminars, and scientific meetings.
• Organisation and management of the laboratory, including maintaining laboratory databases, ordering of laboratory supplies, monitoring budgets, and routine maintenance of laboratory equipment.
• Training and supervising other lab members in key techniques and protocols, lab operations, and equipment use.
• Liaising with Science Operations and attending key quadrant meetings.
• Writing risk assessments and SOPs and providing safety guidance to lab members.

The Research Group

Dr Ultanir’s laboratory focuses on the role of protein kinases in neuronal development and function. Kinases regulate numerous cellular processes by phosphorylating their substrates and altering their function. CDKL5 is a brain enriched serine/threonine kinase. Loss of function mutations of CDKL5 cause a severe neurodevelopmental disorder with early-onset seizures and profound developmental delays, termed CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD). Our lab’s aim is to understand the roles of CDKL5 in the brain and to reveal how loss of CDKL5 leads to neuronal pathology.

We identified several phosphorylation substrates of CDKL5 in the developing brain and defined their roles (PMID 38081835, 30266824 & Lopes et al, BioRxiv, 2024). Using these phosphorylations as read-outs of CDKL5 activity, we demonstrated that CDKL2, a kinase similar to CDKL5, can phosphorylate common substrates with CDKL5 (PMID 38326557). These discoveries helped gain a better understanding of CDKL5 function and CDD pathology. We use mouse models and human iPSC derived neurons to investigate neuronal cell biology.

Details of research projects currently being undertaken can be seen at: https://www.crick.ac.uk/research/find-a-researcher/sila-ultanir

Research techniques used in the laboratory include proteomics, transcriptomics, kinase activity assays, cellular assays in primary neuronal cultures (transfections, viral infections, live-imaging), mouse brain development characterization (neuronal morphology, electrophysiology and behaviour), iPSC derived neurons.

Key responsibilities

• Differentiating and maintaining iPSC derived neuronal cultures
• Maintaining rat astrocyte cultures
• Immunostainings and imaging of neurons in culture.
• Cloning, transfection, viral infections of neurons in culture.
• Performing multi-electrode array recordings and data analysis.

Experience and Competencies

LRS should be interested in learning iPSC cultures, neuronal differentiation, and development of neuronal activity in multi-electrode arrays.

The post holder should embody and demonstrate our core Crick values:

Bold; Open; Collegial

Essential

• BSc in biology, biomedical sciences, biochemistry.
• Knowledge and experience of cell culture techniques.
• Some knowledge and experience of molecular biology methods, e.g. cloning, RNA/DNA/protein purification.

Desirable

• MSc in a relevant discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Experience in iPSC models and primary neuronal cultures.
• Experience in mass spectrometry.
• Experience in confocal microscopy.
• Experience with multi-electrode arrays.
• Excellent/good organisational skills.
• Ability to prioritise and manage own time.
• Ability to work collaboratively.
• Ability to communicate and present data.
• Experience facilitating collaborations.

About Us

At the Crick, we conduct research at the forefront of biomedical research. We combine rigour with an open and collaborative culture, and are outward-looking, reflecting our status as a partnership of six organisations aiming to pool knowledge, ideas and resources.

We have a wide research portfolio with no divisions or departments, bringing biomedical researchers together with clinicians, physical scientists and applied scientists from our pharmaceutical partners.

We aim to attract the most talented researchers and support them to tackle innovative research questions. Our science technology platforms provide our researchers with access to state-of-the-art technology and expertise.

We provide an excellent learning environment with dedicated education programmes in public engagement with science, education and personal development, and a postdoc training programme that prepares scientists for leadership roles in science.

• If you are interested in applying for this role, please apply via our website.
• All offers of employment are subject to successful security screening and continuous eligibility to work in the United Kingdom.
• If you require a visa to work in the UK we will help support your application should you be successful.

Find out what benefits the Crick has to offer:

For more information on our great pay and benefits package please click here: https://www.crick.ac.uk/careers-and-study/life-at-the-crick/pay-and-benefits

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We welcome applications from all backgrounds. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, pregnancy, age, disability, or civil partnership, marital or family status. We particularly welcome applications from people who are Minority Ethnic as they are currently underrepresented in the Crick at this level.

Diversity is essential to excellence in scientific endeavour. It increases breadth and perspective, leading to more innovation and creativity. We want the Crick to be a place where everyone feels valued and where diversity is celebrated and seen as part of the foundation for our Institute’s success.

The Crick is committed to creating equality of opportunity and promoting diversity and inclusivity. We all share in the responsibility to actively promote dignity, respect, inclusivity and equal treatment, and it is our aim to ensure that these principles are reflected and implemented in all strategies, policies and practices.

Read more on our website:https://www.crick.ac.uk/careers-and-study/life-at-the-crick/equality-diversity-and-inclusion