Research Assistant in Neurobiology (King's College London )

# Job Description Applications are invited for a Research Assistant to work in the laboratory of Dr. Dimitar Kostadinov in the Centre for Developmental Neurobiology at King’s College London. The role holder will provide technical support for a Wellcome Trust-funded research program that aims to gain insights into how the cerebellum collaborates with the forebrain in the execution of both sensorimotor and cognitive behaviours. As one of the founding members of Kostadinov laboratory, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience doing cutting-edge neurophysiology in awake behaving mice in collaboration with senior lab members. This position would suit a well-organised team player keen to collaborate with and provide high quality technical assistance to other members of our research team. Applicants should have a BSc or MSc in Biological or Physical Sciences. Ability to work independently, good organisational skills and a willingness to work as part of a team are essential. Experience with rodent neuroscience research is strongly desirable and a genuine interest and knowledge of neuroscience, imaging techniques, or electrophysiology would be helpful. The candidate will benefit from state-of-the-art research facilities and the intellectual environment and interactive culture of the Centre for Developmental Neurobiology. This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract for 24 months in the first instance with the possibility for extension. This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent # Key responsibilities - Assist in building instrumentation to measure the behaviour and neural activity of awake behaving mice. - Train mice to execute complex sensorimotor and cognitive behavioural tasks. - Analyze behavioural and neurophysiological data. - Maintain the organization of the lab’s mouse colony. - Perform post-hoc histology on mice after completion of experiments. - Communicate regularly with the supervising lab members and with the rest of the lab. Presentation of data at lab meeting is encouraged. The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.# Skills, knowledge, and experience Essential criteria 1. BSc or MSc in Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, or related discipline 2. Experience with rodent research (ideally in neuroscience) 3. Ability to trouble shoot laboratory problems 4. Ability to work collaboratively 5. Ability to manage multiple tasks concurrently 6. A commitment to creating an engaging and supportive research environment. Desirable criteria 1. Experience with behavioural neuroscience techniques in rodents. 2. Experience with rodent surgery and viral techniques. 3. Experience with mouse husbandry. 4. Experience of immunofluorescence and fluorescent imaging systems. 5. Experience with data analysis. 6. Programming experience in Python or Matlab. If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Psychoneuroxy

# Job Description



Applications are invited for a Research Assistant to work in the laboratory of Dr. Dimitar Kostadinov in the Centre for Developmental Neurobiology at King’s College London. The role holder will provide technical support for a Wellcome Trust-funded research program that aims to gain insights into how the cerebellum collaborates with the forebrain in the execution of both sensorimotor and cognitive behaviours.

As one of the founding members of Kostadinov laboratory, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience doing cutting-edge neurophysiology in awake behaving mice in collaboration with senior lab members. This position would suit a well-organised team player keen to collaborate with and provide high quality technical assistance to other members of our research team.

Applicants should have a BSc or MSc in Biological or Physical Sciences. Ability to work independently, good organisational skills and a willingness to work as part of a team are essential. Experience with rodent neuroscience research is strongly desirable and a genuine interest and knowledge of neuroscience, imaging techniques, or electrophysiology would be helpful.

The candidate will benefit from state-of-the-art research facilities and the intellectual environment and interactive culture of the Centre for Developmental Neurobiology.

This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract for 24 months in the first instance with the possibility for extension.

This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent

# Key responsibilities

- Assist in building instrumentation to measure the behaviour and neural activity of awake behaving mice.
- Train mice to execute complex sensorimotor and cognitive behavioural tasks.
- Analyze behavioural and neurophysiological data.
- Maintain the organization of the lab’s mouse colony.
- Perform post-hoc histology on mice after completion of experiments.
- Communicate regularly with the supervising lab members and with the rest of the lab. Presentation of data at lab meeting is encouraged.

*The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.*# Skills, knowledge, and experience

**Essential criteria**

1. BSc or MSc in Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, or related discipline
2. Experience with rodent research (ideally in neuroscience)
3. Ability to trouble shoot laboratory problems
4. Ability to work collaboratively
5. Ability to manage multiple tasks concurrently
6. A commitment to creating an engaging and supportive research environment.

**Desirable criteria**

1. Experience with behavioural neuroscience techniques in rodents.
2. Experience with rodent surgery and viral techniques.
3. Experience with mouse husbandry.
4. Experience of immunofluorescence and fluorescent imaging systems.
5. Experience with data analysis.
6. Programming experience in Python or Matlab.