Research Associate / Senior Research Associate in Neural Control of Cardioprotection

Overview

The University of Bristol, through its Translational Health Sciences department, is seeking a Research Associate or Senior Research Associate to join a research programme funded by the British Heart Foundation. This initiative focuses on the neural control of cardioprotection and cardiac microcirculation, examining how metabolic and oxidative stressors impact the cardiac microcirculation on a cellular level and how central brain circuits regulate cardioprotection and promote angiogenesis within the infarcted heart. The position is situated in the United Kingdom as a permanent, full-time role based entirely on site, with initial funding secured for two years and extending until September 30, 2028.

What you get

The appointment grade will be classified as either Grade I or Grade J depending on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate, offering a salary of £39,906 to £50,253 per annum. The work schedule entails a full-time commitment of 35 hours per week. Responsibilities involve planning, executing, and analyzing experiments across in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo methodologies, alongside contributing to manuscript preparation, grant writing, literature reviews, and scientific dissemination at meetings. Depending on the specific grade, duties range from conducting experiments under principal investigator supervision to independently leading complex investigations, managing transgenic mouse colonies, and refining methodological techniques.

Requirements

Candidates must demonstrate a passion for cardiovascular and neuroscience research alongside strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Applicants at either grade level require hands-on experience with in vivo rodent surgical procedures, including stereotaxic surgery and the induction of myocardial infarction or heart failure, plus proficiency in at least three advanced technical areas. These technical areas include primary or human stem cell-derived cell culture models, cardiac pathology in vivo models, advanced in vivo imaging such as echocardiography or laser Doppler and speckle, viral vector design and delivery, and calcium imaging. A Research Associate appointment requires a relevant PhD or progress toward one, while a Senior Research Associate appointment requires a PhD, relevant postdoctoral or equivalent research experience, first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals, and conference presentation experience.