Research Associate/Fellow (Fixed term) (MED007024)

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Research Fellow within the Academic Unit, Mental Health and Clinical Neurosciences, based at the Institute of Mental Health and the Biodiscovery Institute of the University of Nottingham. 

The post is part of an Innovate UK funded project. There is an urgent clinical need for developing blood-based biomarkers that can be used in the NHS memory assessment services for accurately differentiating between the two most common neurodegenerative dementias, Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We have published next-generation RNA-sequencing studies of post-mortem DLB brains and of blood-based small extracellular vesicles (SEV) from people living with DLB. We have identified a few RNA that are differentially expressed in both post-mortem DLB brains and blood-based SEV from people living with DLB. This BBDLB (Blood-based biomarkers for DLB) project aims to develop a multiplex plasma SEV RNA biomarker assay (BBDLB assay) and to evaluate its diagnostic accuracy for distinguishing DLB from AD. We have already started collecting DLB and AD blood samples from participating NHS sites.

The post holder will work in the Institute of Mental Health and the Biodiscovery Institute for facilitating participant recruitment, separating SEV from human plasma, characterising SEV, extracting SEV RNA, assessing RNA expression using NanoString multiplex assays and nCounter-pro analysis system, analysing RNA expression data, and writing manuscripts. You should have experience in separating RNA and performing RNA quantification assays. It will be helpful, if you have prior experience of working with human plasma SEV. This role is suitable to those close to completion of a PhD or those already at a post-doctoral level. 

You will work closely with a psychiatrist (Dr Anto Rajamani), biomedical researcher (Dr Mattea Finelli), and bioinformatician (Dr Anbarasu Lourdusamy). You are expected to plan and conduct work using appropriate methodologies and techniques. You will collaborate with colleagues on areas of shared interest. There is potential to present your work at conferences and to develop future funding applications.

The University of Nottingham provides generous employment packages whilst supporting the well-being of our staff to help them reach their full potential. As a university employee, you will have an excellent choice of benefits and rewards, including access to fitness and health facilities, staff discounts and travel schemes, along with a competitive holiday allowance and a highly attractive pension scheme. The University of Nottingham is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. As a member of the team, you help to create an environment of inclusivity. 

This post will be offered as a full-time (36.25 hours), fixed-term position until 30th November 2024. Arrangements for job share may be considered. Requests for secondment from internal candidates may be considered on the basis that prior agreement has been sought from both your current line manager and the manager of your substantive post, if you are already undertaking a secondment role.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Dr Anto Praveen Rajkumar Rajamani, anto.rajamani@nottingham.ac.uk. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

Closing Date: 30 Jan 2024
Category: Research and Teaching (R&T)