Job Purpose

To make a leading contribution to the project ‘Glial homeostasis, brain ageing, and neurodegeneration’ working with Dr Nathan Woodling. The Woodling lab (https://bit.ly/WoodlingLab) uses fruit fly (Drosophila) model systems to understand how the action of individual genes within specific cell types leads to ageing and susceptibility to age-related disease. This specific project is part of a larger MRC-funded grant that will support three post-doctoral research associates: one at Edinburgh Napier University working with Dr Fiona Kerr (human astrocyte models), one at UCL working with Dr Dervis Salih (human microglia models), and this post at the University of Glasgow working with Dr Nathan Woodling (Drosophila models). The overarching goal of the project is to systematically characterise the glial-specific functions of newly identified longevity-associated genes (recently published by the Salih lab https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awae339) in models of ageing and Alzheimer’s disease-associated toxicity, and thus to identify which of these genes are most promising for future therapeutic targeting in neurodegenerative diseases.

The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the formulation and submission of research publications and research proposals as well as help manage and direct this complex and challenging project as opportunities allow.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Take a leading role in the planning and conduct of assigned research individually or jointly in accordance with the project deliverables and project/group/School/College research strategy.

2. Document research output including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, drafting technical/progress reports and papers as appropriate.

3. Take a leading role in liaising with research staff and Principal Investigators across collaborating institutions (particularly with project co-leads Dr Fiona Kerr and Dr Dervis Salih), to ensure continuity of experimental design and target identification.

3. Establish and maintain your research profile and reputation and that of The University of Glasgow/ School/ Research Group, including establishing and sustaining a track record of independent and joint publications of international quality in high profile/quality refereed journals, enhancing the research impact in terms of economic/societal benefit, and gathering indicators of esteem.

4. Survey the research literature and environment, understand the research challenges associated with the project & subject area, & develop/implement a suitable research strategy.

5. Presentation of work at international and national conferences, at internal and external seminars, colloquia and workshops to develop and enhance our research profile.

6. Take a leading role in the identification of potential funding sources and to assist in the development of proposals to secure funding from internal and external bodies to support future research.

7. Take a leading role in developing and maintaining collaborations with colleagues across the research group/School/College/University and wider community (e.g. Academic and Industrial Partners).

8. Take a leading role in team/group meetings/seminars/workshops and School research group activities to enhance the wider knowledge, outputs and culture of the School/College.

9. Take the lead in the organisation, supervision, mentoring and training of undergraduate and/or postgraduate students and less experienced members of the project team to ensure their effective development.

10. Perform administrative tasks related to the activities of the research group and School, including Budgets/Expenditure.

11. Make a leading contribution to Teaching activities (e.g. supervision of lab projects etc) and associated admin as assigned by the Head of School and in consultation with Principal Investigator.

12. Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field/discipline.

13. Engage in personal, professional and career development, to enhance both specialist and transferable skills in accordance with desired career trajectory.

14. Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Head of School/Director of Research Institute.

15. Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University’s Strategic Plan, World Changers Together.

Please note that as part of your application you must address and demonstrate how you meet EACH of the essential/desirable criteria below.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills, and Experience  

Knowledge/Qualifications  

Essential:

A1. Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 12 [PhD] in Parasitology or a cognate discipline with at least 2 years’ post-doctoral experience in a similar or related role(s) or alternatively possess the equivalent in professional qualifications and experience, with experience of personal development in a similar or related role(s).

A2 A comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of current issues and future directions within the field of ageing research (biogerontology) and/or neurodegenerative disease research using model organism systems.

A3. Knowledge of project-specific technical models, equipment or techniques – including a range of molecular biology approaches and model organism genetics.

A4 Sufficient depth of relevant research experience, normally including sufficient postdoctoral experience in a related field, appropriate to an early career researcher.

Desirable

B1. Knowledge of relevant techniques, including quantitative analysis of behavioural data, microdissection and microscopy techniques, and transcriptomic/genome-wide approaches.

B2. Knowledge of glial cell biology and neuroinflammatory signalling networks, particularly within the contexts of ageing and/or neurodegenerative diseases.

Skills

Essential:

C1. Excellent communication skills (oral and written), including public presentations and ability to communicate complex data/concepts clearly and concisely.

C2. Excellent interpersonal skills including team working, a collegiate approach, and where relevant to the post, supervisory or line management skills.

C3. Excellent workload/time/project/budget/people management skills.

C4. Extensive IT and data analysis/interpretation skills as appropriate.

Experience

Essential:

E1. Sufficient depth of relevant research experience, normally including sufficient postdoctoral experience in a related field, appropriate to an early career researcher.

E2. Proven ability to deliver quality outputs in a timely and efficient manner.

E3. A track record of presentation and publication of research results in quality journals/conferences.

E4. Experience of making a leading contribution in academic activities.

E5. Ability to demonstrate a degree of independence as illustrated by identification of project objectives from assessment of the literature, design and analysis of experiments and drafting of papers.

E6. Experience in undertaking independent research.

E7. Commitment to open research, as appropriate to the discipline, through open data, open code, open educational resources and practices that support replication.

E8. Proven commitment to supporting the career development of colleagues and to other forms of collegiality appropriate to the career stage.

Desirable:

F1. Research experience in fruit fly (Drosophila) genetics and/or other model organism genetics.

F2. Research experience in genetic screens and/or other medium- to high-throughput strategies for identifying novel molecular targets in biological systems.

F3. Research experience in the analysis of complex datasets including transcriptomic, proteomic, or other ‘omics approaches.

F4. Experience leading and coordinating research projects among multiple collaborators

Informal enquiries should be directed to Dr Nathan Woodling, Nathan.Woodling@glasgow.ac.uk 

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7, £40,497 - £45,413 per annum.

This post is full-time and has funding for up to 3 years.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.

Closing Date:  25 June 2025 at 23:45