Research Fellow Full-time

Research Fellow

There are two Research Fellow vacancies available to join a research group headed by Professor Mike Cheetham. The Cheetham Lab (approx. 10 people) is a friendly and inclusive environment that works closely in a shared lab with several other PIs to form a large team (>30) at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology.

The Research Fellows will explore molecular mechanisms of retinal degeneration and test potential therapeutic approaches. The successful candidates will be motivated to contribute to high quality research, with an ability to think and work independently and work effectively as part of team, with excellent organizational skills.

One of the posts is funded by Foundation Fighting Blindness (USA) until 31/12/2027 in the first instance. The other post is funded by Fight for Sight until May 2029 in the first instance. Please see the job descriptions attached for further information on each of the projects.

Salary for the FFB-funded post will be on G7, Points 32-37 (£46,26 – £52,586 per annum.) Salary for the FfS funded post will be on G7, Points 32-33 (£46,261 – £47,451 per annum.) Salary will be determined by skills and experience.

These posts would suit an ambitious post-doctoral researcher with a strong background and interest in the mechanisms of neurodegeneration, retinal molecular and cellular biology, and/or therapeutic development. The successful candidate will preferably have experience of animal model characterization and/or stem cell differentiation. They will also have experience of immunohistochemistry, transcriptomics and biochemical analyses. They will work as part of a multidisciplinary team, and with established collaborators, to investigate the molecular mechanism of inherited retinal degeneration using iPSC derived retinal organoids and animal models to explore potential therapies.

Applicants close to submission of their PhD will also be considered. Appointment as a Research Fellow at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD. If this is not the case, an initial appointment will be made as a Research Assistant at Grade 6b (£39,807 -£41,833) with payment at Grade 7 backdated upon award of a PhD to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis (with corrections)

To apply for the vacancy please click on the 'Apply Now' button below.

Please ensure you attach your CV and highest academic qualification. In addition, please ensure you provide a personal statement outlining how you meet the criteria to support your application. Please do NOT attach research papers.

If you have any queries regarding the vacancy please contact Professor Mike Cheetham (michael.cheetham@ucl.ac.uk)

If you have any queries regarding the application process please email ioo.hr@ucl.ac.uk

A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

Working with some of the greatest intellects in the world, UCL also offers a generous pension scheme and holiday allowance, plus closure and bank holidays as well as enhanced parental pay and more. Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.

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.

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