Research Assistant in Parkinson’s Disease Biomarkers

Overview

The University of Oxford is offering a full-time, fixed-term position for a Research Assistant within the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences. Based at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington, Oxford, the role contributes to an international research programme titled Deciphering the Aggregatome: Unravelling Alpha-Synuclein Seeding Drivers in Parkinson’s Disease. This collaborative initiative brings together Oxford alongside the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry and LMU Munich to explore the molecular determinants of alpha-synuclein seeding and individual differences in disease progression.

The successful candidate will work primarily within the Translational Neuropathology Group led by Professor Laura Parkkinen, receiving day-to-day supervision from Dr Livia Civitelli. The postholder will assist in investigating the aggregatome through biochemical and structural analyses, seed amplification assays, and multi-omics data across various human biosamples. This appointment runs until March 31, 2029.

What you get

The position provides a salary ranging from £36,360 to £42,434 per annum on Research Grade 6. The role offers the chance to build specialist expertise in translational neuropathology, quantitative assays, open science practices, and reproducible data analysis while collaborating with researchers across an international network.

Requirements

Applicants must be prepared to work on-site at the designated facility in Oxford. The role involves optimising, performing, and quality-controlling alpha-synuclein seed amplification assays on cerebrospinal fluid, brain-derived materials, and other human biomaterials as outlined in the study plan. Responsibilities include comparing assay kinetics and seeding profiles, assisting with the morphological and biochemical characterisation of native and amplified aggregates, and supporting alternative quantitative or in situ assay formats. The chosen individual is also responsible for maintaining strict sample traceability, keeping detailed experimental records, and contributing data and protocols to consortium-wide outputs.

Key dates

Applications must be submitted by 12:00 midday on Friday, November 20, 2026. Interviews will take place as soon as possible following the closing date. The fixed-term contract lasts until March 31, 2029.