Research Technician (three posts) London, England
Job description
About us
The Sainsbury Wellcome Centre (SWC) brings together world-leading scientists to investigate how brain circuits process information to generate perception, form memories and guide behaviour. Developed through the vision and partnership of the Gatsby Charitable Foundation and Wellcome, and with substantial investment from these partners, the mission of the SWC is to generate experimentally testable theories of brain function. The Centre comprises 12 highly interdisciplinary experimental research groups accommodated in a new, purpose-designed building, offering an outstanding and unparalleled research environment. SWC scientists use a broad spectrum of the latest advances in molecular and cellular biology, imaging, electrophysiology and behavioural techniques and enjoy state-of-the-art research laboratories, cuttingedge scientific equipment, technologicallyadvanced prototyping and fabrication laboratories and custom in-house high-performance computing facilities.
About the role
We have three opportunities for Research Technicians to contribute to the work of the research groups of Tim Behrens, Sonja Hofer or Thomas Mrsic-Flogel at SWC. You will support their research programme and directly contribute to research projects studying the neural circuit mechanisms of how animals make decisions based on sensory information and the animal’s prior knowledge and mental state in instinctive and learned tasks. This will include performing aseptic, stereotaxic surgeries, handling and care of mice, training mice in behavioural tasks, performing opto- or chemogenetic manipulation of specific brain circuits, imaging and electrophysiological recordings of live preparations, carrying out histological work, helping to collect and analyse data with other team members as well as other general laboratory tasks. The posts are funded for two years in the first instance with the possibility of extension subject to funding.
About you
You will have prior experience of working within a research laboratory and of handling rodents, and ideally knowledge in some surgical methods and in basic analysis of scientific data. Some programming skills in python, MATLAB or similar environments are desirable, as well as the ability to maintain or repair experimental setups. Excellent organisation and communication skills and the ability to work independently, proactively and reliably are essential. You will be expected to work in a collaborative and multidisciplinary research environment, and to communicate regularly with other lab members and SWC staff.
What we offer
The SWC offers staff an award-winning work environment in the heart of Fitzrovia with access to pleasant outdoor spaces. The Centre also offers the full range of UCL staff benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement, occupational pension schemes, excellent family-friendly policies such as occupational shared parental pay, a work-life balance policy, and a range of financial benefits such as a season ticket loan scheme and staff discounts. SWC prides itself on offering a high quality administrative, technical and operational support function, and fully supports the professional development and progression of its staff, actively encouraging colleagues to learn new skills and broaden their experience. The SWC is supported in this aim by UCL’s Organisational Development team who run a wide range of training programmes for all staff types and grades.
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
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. The Athena SWAN Charter recognises commitment to advancing women's careers in science, technology, engineering, maths, and medicine (STEMM) employment in academia. SWC is delighted to have received an Athena Swan Bronze Award in 2021. We stand by our commitment to positive action to improve equality and accessibility in the workplace. We will provide reasonable adjustments to enable people to work and flourish with us. SWC is proud to uphold both UCL’s Dignity at Work and Work-Life Balance policies. As Centre we commit to fostering a positive cultural climate where all staff and students can thrive and and actively support Wellbeing@UCL, UCL community, supported by our Wellbeing.
