Job ID: 87379

Postdoctoral researcher in Epilepsy at UCB Biopharma

Position: Post-doctoral Position

Deadline: 1 November 2022

Contract Length: 3 Years

City: Braine-l'Alleud

Country: Belgium

Institution: UCB Biopharma

Department:

Description:

UCB Biopharma has an exciting opportunity in the Early Solutions Department at our research site in Belgium, close to Brussels (Braine l’Alleud), for a 3-year Fixed Term Contract as Postdoctoral Researcher to join the epilepsy discovery group. This person will contribute to the evaluation of innovative disease-context specific treatment strategies (i.e. Gene Therapies) with disease-modifying potential using in vitro and in vivo models of epilepsy and neurophysiological techniques.

 

Job Description for Postdoctoral researcher

  • Work on a project with the overall aim of applying cutting-edge techniques to investigate the physiopathology of patient-relevant murine models of epilepsy.
  • Develop and carry out confocal live imaging in brain slices combined with electrophysiological stimulation and recording.
  • Develop and carry out wide field microscopy in vivo in awake mice.
  • Develop and carry out AI-assisted behavioral analyses.
  • Support development of novel technological approaches within the epilepsy team.
  • Keep up to date with relevant scientific literature.
  • Document and present experimental results, internally and externally.
  • Work independently and as part of a team with the scientific supervisors.
  • Provide guidance and support related to techniques, analytic tools and working methods to peers and less experienced team members.
  • Seek innovative ideas that add value to the team.
  • Devise documents according to the requirements of the ethical committee to ensure animal experimentation according to the animal welfare guidelines and provide the necessary follow-up documentation.
  • Provide independently high-quality reports of analyzed results in slide deck in a timely manner and into electronic lab notebook to ensure data tractability. Recognize data anomalies and omissions and seek corrective action.

 

Required profile

  • PhD degree in a scientific discipline, e.g. Neuroscience, Physics, Biology or other relevant disciplines.
  • Strong interest in pushing current technologies in neuroscience.
  • Experience in and good understanding of electrophysiological and/or live optical imaging.
  • Experience troubleshooting custom-designed electrophysiological or live microscopy rigs.
  • Experience writing scripts (Python, R or similar) or willingness to learn.
  • Experience working with rats or mice, in vivo and/or ex vivo.
  • Holding, or willingness to achieve, the European certificate for animal experimentation (FELASA B or higher).
  • Excellent skills in data analysis, graphing and reporting of data (oral presentation) and use of required software.
  • Ability to update and expand knowledge through self-directed learning.
  • Proactive and creative problem solver.
  • Strong work ethic and motivation.
  • Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills to communicate and coordinate operations between team members.
  • Ability to independently plan, organize and prioritize own work to make the most effective use of time and resources.
  • Ability to multi-task and flexible attitude to work, including the ability to take up new tasks when required.
  • Act as a “team player” contributing to achievement of team objectives, build effective collaborative working relationships with team members, understand and accommodates the needs and priorities of team members.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

 

Desired profile (having one or more of the experiences listed below would be an advantage)

  • Strong experience in epilepsy chronic animal models in vivo and ex vivo.
  • Experience in scientific programming.
  • Experience designing and building electrophysiological rigs or fluorescence microscopes.
  • Experience in acute brain slice preparation.
  • Experience in stereotaxic implantation of GRIN lenses in rodents brain (e.g. for miniscopes).
  • Experience using open-source tools for automated behavioral analyses (e.g. DeepLabCut).
  • Experience in a range of genetically-encoded fluorescent indicators.