We are recruiting for Postdoctoral Researchers for a fixed-term 24-month appointment.

We are seeking up to two postdoctoral researchers to join the labs of Professors Ian Ganley and Miratul Muqit at the MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC PPU), Dundee. Candidates with expertise in signalling, cell biology, and mouse neurobiology will investigate novel regulatory pathways controlling mitophagy in the brain.

The Ganley and Muqit labs aim to uncover the molecular mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) through open, collaborative research. The successful applicants will work on a Michael J. Fox Foundation–funded translational project using human iPSC-derived cells and mouse models to assess small molecule modulators of mitophagy-related signalling, with the goal of identifying new therapeutic strategies for PD.

The projects will focus on how alpha-synuclein and PINK1 regulate mitophagy, building on the labs’ previous discoveries to extend recent findings on the integrated stress response and alpha-synuclein-mediated mitophagy.

Researchers will benefit from the MRC PPU’s interdisciplinary and collaborative environment, strong links with industry, and opportunities for public and patient engagement. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge PD research, gain training in advanced techniques, and establish a strong international scientific profile.

Relevant publications:

• Singh PK, Agarwal S, Volpi I, Wilhelm LP, Becchi G, Keenlyside A, Macartney T, Toth R, Rousseau A, Masson GR, Ganley IG, Muqit MMK. Kinome screening identifies integrated stress response kinase EIF2AK1/HRI as a negative regulator of PINK1 mitophagy signaling. Sci Adv. 2025 May 9;11(19):eadn2528. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adn2528. PMID: 40344059.

• Bagnoli E, Lin YE, Burel S, Jaimon E, Antico O, Themistokleous C, Nikoloff JM, Squires S, Morella I, Watzlawik JO, Fiesel FC, Springer W, Tonelli F, Lis P, Brooks SP, Dunnett SB, Brambilla R, Alessi DR, Pfeffer SR, Muqit MMK. Endogenous LRRK2 and PINK1 function in a convergent neuroprotective ciliogenesis pathway in the brain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Feb 4;122(5):e2412029122. PMID: 39874296.

• Longo M, Bishnu A, Risiglione P, Montava-Garriga L, Cuenco J, Sakamoto K, MacKintosh C, Ganley IG. Opposing roles for AMPK in regulating distinct mitophagy pathways. Mol Cell. 2024 Nov 21;84(22):4350-4367.e9. PMID: 39532100.

• Singh F, Prescott AR, Rosewell P, Ball G, Reith AD, Ganley IG. Pharmacological rescue of impaired mitophagy in Parkinson's disease-related LRRK2 G2019S knock-in mice. Elife. 2021 Aug 3;10:e67604. PMID: 34340748.

Your priorities will include:

• Generate knockout iPSC lines and perform quality control followed by differentiation to iNeurons.

• Breeding and characterisation of alpha-synuclein and PINK1 knockout models crossed to mitophagy (mito-QC) reporter lines.

• Biochemical and cell biological characterisation of mitophagy in vitro and in vivo.

• 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.

Who we’re looking for:

• 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 an interest in signal transduction research and how disruptions of these pathways are linked to human disease.

• Strong background in mouse neurobiology, biochemistry, cell biology proteomics and/or gene editing.

• Ability to work independently but with excellent ability to work in a team, and an open and collaborative approach to science.

• Excellent communication skills and knowledge of the English language are essential.

• Experience in mouse neurobiology or proteomics would be highly desirable.

• Expertise in iPSC culture is desirable, although the successful candidate would be supported and trained (if necessary).

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 Ian Ganley at i.ganley@dundee.ac.uk or Prof Miratul Muqit at m.muqit@dundee.ac.uk. To find out more about MRC PPU please visit https://www.ppu.mrc.ac.uk/

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.

As an internationally diverse institution, we welcome job applicants from all countries and nationalities. The School of Life Sciences is proud to employ staff from over 40 different nations.

The diversity of our staff and students helps to make the University of Dundee a UK university of choice for undergraduate, postgraduate and distance learning. Family friendly policies, staff networks for BME, Disabled and LGBT staff, membership of Athena SWAN, the ECU Race Equality Charter and Stonewall as well a full range of disability services, create an enjoyable and inclusive place to work.