Research Fellow (103618-1224)

Location

University of Warwick Campus, Coventry

Department

School of Life Sciences

Position Type

Fixed Term

Duration

20 months from start date

Salary

£34,866 to £45,163 per annum

About the Role

For informal enquiries, please contact Bruno Frenguelli (Professor of Neuroscience) at b.g.frenguelliwarwick.ac.uk.

Fixed Term Contract for 20 months

Full Time 36.5 hours per week

Flexible start date March 2025

Stroke Association; Novel approaches for the treatment of ischaemic stroke


KEYWORDS: - ischemic stroke, ATP, preclinical, neuroprotection,

What scientific question will you investigate?  / Outline of the project aims

An exciting opportunity is available to study a novel approach to the treatment of ischaemic stroke. Stroke deprives the brain of the substrates necessary to synthesise ATP, the cellular energy source. As a result, ATP levels decrease in the ischaemic brain initiating the pathological cascade that results in neuronal death. Moreover, the metabolites of ATP, such as adenosine, are lost from the brain into the circulation where they are no longer available for resynthesis into ATP. This prolongs the ATP deficit, worsening outcome, even after, and if, the blood supply to the brain is restored. We have pioneered an innovative approach to this brain bioenergetic crisis through providing the brain with ribose and adenine, two vital precursors of ATP, which the brain converts into ATP. Extensive in vitro validation and encouraging confirmatory results in an in vivo stroke model resulted in a project grant award from the Stroke Association to pursue ribose and adenine (RibAde) as a potential hyperacute point-of-care treatment for stroke, that could not only metabolically support the ischaemic brain, but may also increase chances for successful recanalization therapy.

The successful applicant will have a PhD or equivalent in neuroscience or a related discipline, will be familiar with the scientific literature pertaining to cerebral ischaemia and brain injury, and will have extensive experimental expertise in animal models of ischemic stroke.

You should either currently hold UK Home Office Personal License PILA-C or should be willing to undertake the course and hold this license prior to starting this role.

About the research group

The Frenguelli lab has a long track record of studying the release, role and replenishment of the purine molecules adenosine and ATP in the mammalian brain. Through these studies the lab has arrived at a potential treatment for stroke that will be tested in this project.

The Frenguelli lab is part of the Neuroscience Research Cluster in the School of Life Sciences at Warwick University. We are a diverse group of neuroscientists who study a variety of physiological and pathological process occurring in the nervous system. Through in silico, molecular, cellular and whole animal approaches, we investigate fundamental properties of synaptic transmission and plasticity, the influence of pathogenic proteins, and the impact and mechanisms of stress, pain and epilepsy.

The Frenguelli lab is located in the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building (IBRB), a new £54m state-of-the-art research facility that combines cutting edge research infrastructure with award-winning architecture.

For more information about our lab visit ?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwarwick.ac.uk%2Ffac%2Fsci%2Flifesci%2Fpeople%2Fbfrenguelli%2F&module=jobs&id=268876" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwarwick.ac.uk%2Ffac%2Fsci%2Flifesci%2Fpeople%2Fbfrenguelli%2F&module=jobs&id=268876" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/­lifesci/people/­bfrenguelli/

Any requests for further information about the role can be directed to Bruno Frenguelli; b.g.frenguelliwarwick.ac.uk

We and the wider University of Warwick environment offer substantial opportunities for professional development including regular opportunities to present research finding at internal, local, national and international conferences.

About You

We are looking for someone with expertise in experimental models of ischemic stroke, in particular filament occlusion of the MCA. Given the time-limited nature of the position, such expertise is a necessary requirement, as is expertise in post-stroke functional assessment. Applicants should therefore be proficient in filament occlusion models, surgical techniques and post-surgical behavioural monitoring.

You should either currently hold a UK Home Office Personal License PILA-C or should be willing to undertake the course and obtain this license through online courses, ideally prior to starting this role.

For further information regarding the skills required for this role please see the personal specification section of the attached job description.

If you are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD but have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant at the top of level 5 of the University grade structure . Upon receipt of evidence of the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of level 6 of the University grade structure .

About the Department

School of Life Sciences

For further information about the School of Life Sciences please see our website at

?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.warwick.ac.uk%2Ffac%2Fsci%2Flifesci&module=jobs&id=268876" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.warwick.ac.uk%2Ffac%2Fsci%2Flifesci&module=jobs&id=268876" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/­sci/lifesci

We believe that collegiality, openness, inclusivity and diversity are essential for an excellent environment; this ethic has enabled us to gain an Athena SWAN Silver award. We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you are excited by this role, we encourage you to apply, even if your past experience does not match exactly. We also encourage applications from all groups with protected characteristics.

About the University

Born in the 60s with a mindset of boldness, imagination and collaboration, the University of Warwick is a world-leading research-intensive university with the highest academic and research standards. We’re one of the world’s top universities, ranked 67th in the world and 10th in the UK*, with 92% of our research assessed to be ’world leading or internationally excellent’**.

You’ll be joining a diverse, innovative and globally connected community committed to igniting real world progress. Here at Warwick, we offer you opportunities to follow your ambitions as long as you bring the energy and determination to succeed.

*QS World University Rankings 2024

** Research Excellence Framework 2021

To find out more about us visit our website.

How to Apply

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 02 February 2025 at 11.55pm

To apply, please click ’Apply’ below and submit an application form by the closing date. Please plan for any potential delays as you will not be able to submit an application past this deadline (even if you opened the form at, say, 11.30pm).

Please attach a CV and cover letter.

• Your CV should include your most recent employment experience, any other relevant experience, and education history.
• Your cover letter must express the reasons for your interest in this post, and stating explicitly your experience of filament occlusion models of ischemic stroke. Within the cover letter, and with reference to your CV, you should demonstrate how you meet the requirements of this role by specific reference to each of the essential, and where applicable, desirable criteria detailed in the person specification.

This information will be used in the shortlisting process and without this evidence we may not be able to shortlist your application.

Please note that if you do not evidence the essential requirements we will not be able to shortlist your application.

In your application, you can also include any career breaks you may have taken (e.g. parental/caring/long-term sick leave, part-time work, secondments) or any periods where you were unable or restricted to work because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please see here for guidance on writing a cover letter. We highly recommend using individual criteria as headers and giving examples below, though you are free to format the letter as you wish.

To streamline our hiring processes, we can only accept applications via our official website, ?url=warwick-careers.tal.net&module=jobs&id=268876" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">warwick-careers.tal.net .

Interview Date: TBC

Start Date: Flexible

What we Offer

We will provide you with a great range of benefits, which include an attractive pension scheme, 30 days holiday plus Christmas closure, excellent learning and development opportunities, and savings on a wide range of products and services. We offer a generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy, and onsite childcare facilities.

We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer you access to flexible working, for more information click here .

We are proud to say that we are a Living Wage employer .

If you are considering relocating to the UK, read our Relocation Guide to find out more about what Warwick has to offer and what might be involved in the process.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Warwick is committed to building an organisation of mutual respect and dignity, promoting a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive working and learning environment.  We recognise that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, and valued.  Where possible, we go beyond legislation to provide a place where everyone can thrive, supporting all staff to achieve their full potential. We aspire to remove economic, social, and cultural barriers that may otherwise prevent people from succeeding.

We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation. To find out more about our social inclusion work at Warwick visit our webpages  here .

The University currently holds a  Race Equality Charter Bronze Award ,  Athena Swan Sliver Award  and a  Disability Smart Bronze Award . The University of Warwick is also one of the six founder institutions of the  EUTOPIA European University Alliance .

Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)

The University of Warwick is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellfare of all those we work with.

In line with the DBS Code of Practice, the successful candidates for any roles involving regulated activity, will be subject to a DBS check at the appropriate level. The University will take all neccessary measures to ensure that any individual subject to a barring order does not undertake any work with the barred group specified (ie. children and/or adults).

We expect all employees, volunteers, and partners to share our commitment to safeguarding.

Rehibilitation of Ex-Offenders

The University undertakes not to discriminate against anyone who makes a disclosure relating to a conviction. The information disclosed at application stage is only visible to the central DBS team (ie. not recruiting managers) to ensure there is no bias during the shortlisting process.

Job Description

JD - 103618- Research Fellow .pdf - 183KB

Right to Work in the UK

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