The laboratory of Dr Laura Dearden (https: // www. mrl.ims.cam.ac.uk/about- us/our-people/early-career-investigators/laura-dearden/) is seeking a post- doctoral research associate to join a growing research group at the Institute of Metabolic Science. We are interested in understanding how exposure to obesity during pregnancy programs an increased risk of obesity in offspring as they grow up. The research will be focused on understanding the importance of insulin signalling in changes in normal hypothalamic development, using transgenic mouse models, primary neuronal culture techniques and state of the art microscopy techniques for visualizing fetal brain development in vivo and in vitro.
Scientists are encouraged to apply if they have substantial practical experience in the neuroscience of energy balance and metabolism. Applicants should have a background in neuroendocrinology techniques and metabolic phenotyping of rodents. The role holder will be responsible for running their own research projects and will work within a larger group of PhD students, technicians and other post docs.
The major roles associated with the job will include:
-Managing a transgenic mouse colony, and murine phenotyping of food intake behaviour, glucose tolerance and other metabolic parameters
-Performing cell culture, immunohistochemistry, western blotting, RT-PCR and other molecular biology techniques
-Imaging of the fetal brain using confocal and light-sheet microscopy in addition to imaging of neural progenitor cell proliferation in real-time using Opera phenix high content screening system.
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.
Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a basic disclosure (criminal records check) check, a health assessment and a security check.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Please ensure that you upload a covering letter and CV in the Upload section of the online application. The covering letter should outline how you match the criteria for the post and why you are applying for this role. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application.
Please include details of your referees, including email address and phone number, one of which must be your most recent line manager.
Please quote reference RG39343 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
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Further informationDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry
Salary£36,024-£44,263
ReferenceRG39343
CategoryResearch
Published8 November 2023
Closing date6 December 2023