Summary of Job Purpose and Principal Duties

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral researcher to participate in a joint project between industry and the laboratories of Miratul Muqit and Ian Ganley, at the University of Dundee.

Applications are invited to explore mechanisms of organelle biology in human disease. The ability to rapidly isolate lysosomes or mitochondria is already providing unprecedented insights into the mechanisms of human disease and the successful applicant will be trained in these methods and mass spectrometry to gain of deeper understanding of neurodegeneration underlying Parkinson’s disease. The Muqit and Ganley labs have great expertise in understanding organelle mechanisms in primary cells (see Antico et al, Science Adv 2021) or in vivo (see Singh et al, eLife 2021). The project addresses questions at the forefront of Parkinson’s disease-linked neurodegeneration and successful candidates will be mentored for career development towards independence or towards leading positions in industry. The project will be a collaboration with a major pharmaceutical company.

The successful candidate will benefit from the excellent remuneration package the University of Dundee has to offer and salary placement will be within Grade 7 of our salary scales (£34,308 - £42,155). The position is fixed term until 30 June 2024 in the first instance.

Summary of Skills, Experience and Qualifications

Candidate requirements:

- PhD with an outstanding track record and at least one first authored publication in an internationally recognised peer-reviewed journal.
- Experience in tissue culture, molecular biology, biochemistry would be desirable.

- Capable of working in a team, but able to plan and work independently.

- Excellent communication skills and proficiency in English.

Appointment as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant on the Grade 7 salary scale is dependent upon you having been awarded a PhD. An appointment may be considered if you are shortly expected to be awarded a PhD. In this case the initial appointment would be made as a Research Assistant on the Training Grade 7 salary scale (Spinal Point 25 – 28).

College / School / Directorate Information

The Muqit and Ganley labs are based in the MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC-PPU), one of the world’s most renowned centres for research on protein phosphorylation and ubiquitylation (http://www.ppu.mrc.ac.uk) and is an exciting and collaborative research environment, equipped to the highest international standards. The major aims of the MRC-PPU are to advance understanding of the role of protein phosphorylation and ubiquitylation in cell regulation and human disease; to facilitate the development of drugs to treat diseases caused by abnormalities in phosphorylation; and to generate reagents and improve technologies. Another key remit of the MRC-PPU is to train the next generation of scientists who will advance our understanding in this crucial area of medical research. The MRC-PPU is in a beautiful location overlooking the estuary of the River Tay and embedded within the School of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee. This is one of the premier Life Sciences research centres in the world and was recently assessed as the top UK University for Life Sciences research in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF).

Any Additional Information

For informal enquiries please contact Miratul Muqit m.muqit@dundee.ac.uk or i.ganley@dundee.ac.uk

For details on the Muqit and Ganley labs please visit our websites: http://www.ppu.mrc.ac.uk/research/?pid=11 or https://www.ppu.mrc.ac.uk/research/principal-investigator/ian-ganley

Commitment to DORA
The School of Life Sciences has been fully committed to the principals of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) since 2013. In assessing applicants, we consider the scientific quality of their published research papers, but do not take into account where the papers were published and do not consider journal-based metrics, such as Journal Impact Factors

The diversity of our staff and students helps to make the University of Dundee one of the top universities in the UK. Family friendly policies, staff support networks for BME and LGBT staff, membership of Athena Swan and Stonewall, as well a full range of disability services, create an enjoyable and inclusive place to work.