Postdoctoral Research Scientist in dopamine transmission

The Cragg lab alongside other groups at Oxford (Wade-Martins and Magill), UCL (Kittler) and Ulm (Liss) are conducting a collaborative Wellcome Trust-funded research project to explore the physiological roles of Ca2+ in regulating dopamine transmission to gain insights into the roles of Ca2+ in Parkinson’s disease.

This project will exploit state-of-the-art tools to understand the roles of Ca2+ influx, storage and signalling within dopamine axons in health and disease. Our recently published data suggests that the roles of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels are dynamically regulated across striatal territories in a manner that correlates with risk factors of Parkinson’s (Brimblecombe et al 2023, PMID: 37941514).

In this project, we will advance understanding of the downstream coupling of Ca2+ to mitochondrial function to better understand the selective vulnerability of a subset of DA neurons in Parkinson’s, and to inform druggable targets that could offer neuroprotective potential. We are now seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Scientist with a strong interest in Ca2+ biology to join us as part of this exciting collaboration.

Duties include adapting existing and developing new scientific techniques and experimental protocols; testing hypotheses and analysing scientific data from a variety of sources, reviewing and refining working hypotheses as appropriate; contributing ideas for new research projects and for generating research income.

You will have a strong background in electrophysiological and/or electrochemical and/or photometry techniques, used to investigate neural circuits or synapses of the central nervous system. Applicants must hold, or be close to completion of, a PhD/DPhil in a relevant area of neurobiological research.

The fixed term post is available from 01/05/2024. The post will be based in The Department of Physiology Anatomy & Genetics, Sherrington Building, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PT

Informal enquiries may be directed to the DPAG HR Team – hr@dpag.ox.ac.uk or Professor Stephanie Cragg –stephanie.cragg@dpag.ox.ac.uk

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