Research Assistant - London, United Kingdom - King's College London

King's College London

Verified Company

London, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

beBee Recruiter

Description

Job description

This 1-year research assistant in the laboratory of Professor Benedikt Berninger is funded by the European Research Council (ERC) and will investigate glia-to-neuron conversion in vivo.

The Centre for Developmental Neurobiology and MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders are world-leading centres in the field of developmental neuroscience and brain disorders, situated in central London.

This is a Full Time Post on a FTC until 10 June 2024

Key responsibilities

Provide flexible logístical, technical and organisational support to other group members in the laboratory
Liaise with the Resource Manager for the department, to coordinate risk assessments, laser safety and to resolve any problems in the building that may affect the group.
Write and collate risk assessments for all work in progress and planning for the Berninger group. Ensure all staff in the group read and understand both risk assessments and Codes of Practice.
Liaise with the Biological Safety Office for the department to ensure project licences are obtained and adhered to for work requiring genetic modification
Provide advice and training in the use of laboratory equipment and basic techniques to visitors, students and staff within the group.
Advise the group on the availability and safe usage of equipment, techniques and facilities. Ensure continuity of background supplies.
Take responsibility for ensuring that the Berninger laboratory area is maintained in a clean and safe condition and to be responsible for the daily, weekly and monthly cleaning rota for the laboratory and all equipment, and the weekly monitoring of the laboratory environment. Organise and monitor systems and rotas for the safe disposal of laboratory waste.
Assist with the preparation of orders and other general laboratory administrative tasks.
Liaise with the Business Manager of the department to discuss research grant expenditure and monitoring of grant budgets.
Assist with the preparation of stocks and reagents for the general maintenance of the laboratory.
Employ a broad range of histology, cell biology and molecular biology techniques.
To learn any new techniques as needed for research projects and then be responsible for the training of others in these techniques.
Keep comprehensive and uptodate laboratory notes.
Provide detailed records of data generated and associated analysis. Ensure compliance with Home Office and other regulatory requirements for record keeping. Establish a lab management system that ensures that important biological resources and data are correctly archived.
Seek appropriate training relevant to the performance of the tasks required and take advantage of opportunities for continuing professional development as these arise.
Liaise with the Biological Service Unit (BSU), the Berninger laboratory and Professor Berninger to coordinate, supervise the mouse colonies.
Breeding and management of several transgenic / mutant mouse lines
Train mice for behaviour
Prepare retroviruses for gain and loss of function experiments
Carry out precise retrovirus injections in different cortical regions for gain and loss of function experiments.
Carry out perfusions and obtain frozen tissue sections of mouse brain for staining and imaging
Carry out immunohistochemistry to localise cell type markers in tissue sections, confocal scanning of preparations.
Imaris analysis of cell type markers
In situ hybridisation, including preparation of probes to localise gene expression
Design and molecular cloning of different constructs for loss and gain of function experiments
FACS sorting of cortical neurons for transcriptomic analysis
Maintain uptodate, accurate and comprehensive laboratory notes
Manage the progress and set goals for achievement of project aims in collaboration with team leaders including the execution of literature reviews, data collection and analysis, and report
Continue to update knowledge and develop skills

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

Degree in biological science or similar
Relevant and broad work experience in a research laboratory.
Expertise in working with mice, including holding personal home office licenses PIL E1/L AB
Knowledge of histology, cell biology and molecular biology.
Experience troubleshooting laboratory problems
Practical and organisational skills
Experience of working collaboratively
Experience of managing multiple tasks concurrently
Computer literate, including experience in using Rstudio and Matlab

Desirable