Job number
MED05458
Faculties
Faculty of Medicine
Departments
Department of Infectious Disease
Salary or Salary range
£49,017 - £57,472 per annum
Location/campus
South Kensington Campus - On site only
Contract type work pattern
Full time - Fixed term
Posting End Date
13 Oct 2025
About the role
We have an exciting opportunity for a postdoctoral Research Associate role in the group of Dr Szymon W. Manka ).
The post is funded by the UK Medical Research Council for 1 year and will investigate molecular pathways of prion pathogenicity, the paradigm of neurodegeneration, using cutting-edge structural and cell biology techniques. The aim of the project is to identify the sites and molecular determinants governing prion propagation in cellular and tissue contexts using cryo-correlated light and electron microscopy/tomography (cryo-CLEM/ET).
What you would be doing
You would help pinpoint sites of prion propagation in cells and identify prion interaction partners (pathogenicity mediators) that may inform future development of anti-prion therapeutics. This project has a further potential to help elucidate general pathways of wider relevance to neurodegenerative diseases, including common dementias such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
What we are looking for
You will have a PhD degree or equivalent and be able to demonstrate experience with primary mouse neuron cultures, maintaining prion infection in neurons, generating cell lines with expanded genetic code for bio-orthogonal labelling of prion protein, using live fluorescence microscopy to track prions in cells, using cryo-correlative light and electron microscopy (cryo-CLEM) to target prions for cryo-ET, collecting cryo-ET data of prions in situ using high-end electron microscope and reconstructing tomograms of prions in situ.
* Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as a Research Assistant within the salary range £43,863 - £47,223 per annum
For full person specification, please, check the essential and desired criteria in the Job Description.
What we can offer you
* The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity.
* Grow your career: gain access to Imperial's sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression.
* Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 39 days off a year and generous pension schemes).
* Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing
Further information
* The expected start date is 1 January 2026.
* This role is a 1-year fixed-term contract in the first instance with the possibility of extension dependent on the success of future funding acquisition
For further information and informal enquiries, please contact Dr. Manka directly at
Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.
We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
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About Imperial
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This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you'll join us at Imperial College London.
Our Culture
We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.
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