Ref Number
B02-07879
Professional Expertise
Research and Research Support
Department
School of Life & Medical Sciences (B02)
Location
London
Working Pattern
Full time
Salary
£35,630–£41,005
Contract Type
Fixed-term
Working Type
On site
Available for Secondment
No
Closing Date
06-Nov-2024

About us

The Institute

The Ear Institute has circa 75 staff located in a multi-disciplinary facility dedicated to understanding the mechanisms of hearing and the causes of deafness. The Institute together with its partner, the Royal National Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital (RN ENT), is a major national and international centre for specialist training and research, hosting a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Theme in ‘Hearing Health’. A RAND analysis of highly-cited publications ranked UCL No.1 in England for both ‘Deafness and Hearing’ and for ‘Audiology and Speech & Language Pathology’.

Training the next generation of auditory scientists is a priority at the Ear Institute. The Institute hosts three-and four-year PhD programmes in a wide range of basic and clinical disciplines, including genetics, cell and molecular biology, auditory neuroscience and human auditory function. It also offers a range of Master’s-level programmes in audiology, audiovestibular research, and sensory systems research, as well as short courses for students and health-care professionals. An undergraduate BSc in Audiology was launched in 2022/23. Audiology teaching is delivered in close collaboration with the RN ENT Hospital.

To find out more about our research and teaching visit http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ear/.

About the role

We offer an exceptional opportunity for a Research Assistant to support research into the neural mechanism of mating in malaria mosquitoes. In this role, you will collaborate closely with Anya Suppermpool, a Research Fellow specializing in mosquito neurobiology. You will maintain and manage mosquito colonies and assist in the preparation of samples for single-cell sequencing, as well as the spatial mapping of neural circuits involved in mosquito hearing and mating behaviour.

This role offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of neuroscience and mosquito biology, contributing to innovative research with potential applications in vector control within the Faculty of Brain Sciences in UCL.

The post is available immediately and funded by the Wellcome Trust Early-Careers Award to Anya Suppermpool for 36 months in the first instance.

If you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online, or have any queries regarding the application process, please contact

About you

Key Responsibilities:

Maintain and manage a mosquito colony.
Assist in the preparation of samples for single-cell sequencing, perform the spatial mapping of neural circuits, and perform behavioural tests involved in mosquito hearing and mating behaviour.

You should have a minimum of BSc in Vector Biology, Neuroscience, Molecular Biology, or a related discipline, experience of working with mosquito or insects and experience of molecular biology techniques. You will be capable of critical thinking and of voicing your own opinions, have the ability to work well under pressure, have strong IT skills, and have a careful and methodical molecular biology techniques, with rigorous attention to detail.

This role does not meet the eligibility requirements for a Skilled Worker Visa certificate of sponsorship under UK Visas and Immigration legislation. Therefore UCL will not be able to sponsor individuals who require right to work in the UK to carry out this role.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
On-Site nursery
On-site gym
Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
Discounted medical insurance
Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/rewards-and-benefitsto find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

Athena Swan Status Statements Our department holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality.

You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here : https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/