We are recruiting for exceptional individuals to join as Postdoctoral Researchers in the laboratory of Prof Miratul Muqit. This is a fixed-term appointment for 36 months.

We are recruiting up to three postdoctoral scientists to join the laboratory of Professor Miratul Muqit, with expertise in signalling, cell biology, mouse neurobiology, CRISPR gene-editing or proteomics to investigate the function of the PINK1 kinase in neurons and the brain. The overarching goal of the Muqit lab is to undertake fundamental research to understand the molecular basis of the neurodegenerative disorder, Parkinson’s disease (PD), through open and interdisciplinary collaborations with leading research groups across the world.

The successful applicant(s) will undertake discovery-driven research projects as part of a Medical Research Council Programme Grant Award that will lead to better understanding of PD and how to diagnose and treat it. The Muqit Lab is exemplar in collaborative research to make robust discoveries and share data openly in the field to accelerate progress.

The project(s) will investigate mechanisms of the PINK1 kinase which is frequently mutated in early-onset PD and is a master-regulator of mitophagy in brain. Previous research by the Muqit lab has contributed to the development of targeted therapies for PINK1-induced mitophagy whuch entered clinical trials for PD patients last year. However, much knowledge on PINK1 has been obtained from in vitro studies and very little is known on how the PINK1 pathway is regulated and functions in the brain and projects will be aimed at uncovering entirely new understanding of PINK1 function that may lead to new concepts for therapeutic exploitation in PD.

The successful candidate(s) will benefit from an interdisciplinary environment in the Muqit Lab in the MRC PPU in Dundee. The laboratory forms part of the national UK DRI and the EMBO YIP networks and successful applicants will have access to UK DRI and EMBO sponsored opportunities for training and self-development. The MRC unit also collaborates a major pharmaceutical company that support the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy that provides opportunities for interaction with industry and potential exploitation of new discoveries made in the lab. The Lab actively participates in Public Engagement and successful candidates will be encouraged to be involved in public and patient involvement.

Overall, this position provides an exciting opportunity to be involved in world-class research projects and for the successful applicant to carve themselves a major international reputation. The successful candidate(s) will have an opportunity to be trained in a suite of state-of-the-art techniques during the project.

Relevant publications:

• Singh, P.K., Agarwal, S., Volpi, I., Wilhelm, L.P., Becchi, G., Keenlyside, A., Macartney, T., Toth, R., Rousseau, A., Masson, G.R., Ganley, I.G., Muqit, M.M. (2025) Kinome screening identifies integrated stress response kinase EIF2AK1 / HRI as a negative regulator of PINK1 mitophagy signalling. Science Adv 11: eadn2528.

• Bagnoli, E., Lin Y-E., Burel, S., Jaimon, E., Antico, O., Themistokleous C., Nikoloff, J.M., Morella, I., Watzlawik J.O., Fiesel, F.C., Springer, W., Tonelli, F., Brooks, S.P., Sunnett, S.B., Brambilla, R., Alessi, D.R., Pfeffer, S.R., Muqit, M.M. (2025) Endogenous LRRK2 and PINK1 function in a convergent neuroprotective ciliogenesis pathway in the brain. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 122: e2412029122.

• Antico, O., Thompson, P.W., Hertz, N.T., Muqit, M.M., Parton, L.E. (2025) Targeting mitophagy in neurodegenerative diseases. Nature Rev Drug Discov 24: 276-299.

• Raimi, O.G., Ojha, H., Ehses, K., Dederer, V., Lange, S.M., Rivera, C.P., Deegan, T.D., Chen, Y., Wightman, M., Toth, R., Labib, K.P.M., Mathea, S., Ranson, N., Fernandez-Busnadiego, R., Muqit, M.M. (2024) Mechanism of human PINK1 activation at the TOM complex in a reconstituted system. Science Adv 10: eadn7191.

• Lenka, D.R., Dahe, S.V., Antico, O., Sahoo, P., Prescott, A.R., Muqit, M.M., Kumar, A. (2024) Additional feedforward mechanism of Parkin activation via binding of phospho-UBL and RING0 in trans. eLife 13: RP96699 doi: 10.7554/eLife.96699

Your priorities will include:

• Primary mouse differentiation protocols to CNS cell types including neurons and astrocytes.

• Design and performing kinome-wide CRSIPR/Cas9 knock-down screen and sgRNA enrichment analysis.

• Proteomic discovery platforms including PTM proteomics and organellar isolation workflows

• Public and patient involvement and engagement presentations.

• Dissemination of protocols and data openly and through formal peer-reviewed publications.

• Advising and mentoring undergraduate and PhD students.

Candidate requirements:

• Have a PhD in Cell Biology, Mouse Neuroscience, Biochemistry, Proteomics or related discipline with outstanding academic track record and a publication record in internationally recognised peer-reviewed journals.
• Have a strong interest in signal transduction research and how disruptions of these pathways are linked to human disease.
• Have a strong background in mouse neurobiology, biochemistry, cell biology proteomics and/or gene editing.
• Have a strong ability to work independently but with excellent ability to work in a team, and an open and collaborative approach to science.
• Highly organised, motivated and meticulous, with an ability to work independently and to drive a project forward robustly and at pace.
• Have excellent communication skills and knowledge of the English language are essential.
• Prior experience in mouse neurobiology or proteomics would be highly desirable.

We are one of the UK’s leading universities, internationally recognised for our expertise across a range of disciplines and research breakthroughs in multiple areas, including science, medicine and engineering, amongst many others. Our purpose is to transform lives, locally and globally, which we do as a community of staff (Professional Services and academic Schools), students and alumni. Professional Services directorates are key to delivering the University strategy and driving change across the University.

For further information about this position please contact Prof Miratul Muqit at m.muqit@dundee.ac.uk. To find out more about MRC PPU please visit https://www.ppu.mrc.ac.uk/