Research Fellow in Life Sciences

Project Management
Uk
February 20, 2025
Full Time
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Job Description

Job Summary

Location: University of Warwick
Contract: 36 months, full-time
Funding: MRC (Medical Research Council)
Start Date: No later than 1 July 2025
Project Duration: 1 July 2025 – 30 June 2028
Closing Date: Wednesday 12 March 2025, 11:55 PM

Project Overview

This MRC-funded project explores a novel pain-relief mechanism activated by BnOCPA, an unconventional adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) agonist. Unlike traditional A1R agonists, BnOCPA selectively engages the Gob subunit of the Gi/o Gα family, minimizing cardiovascular side effects while providing potent analgesia in preclinical models of neuropathic pain.

The project will:

  • Investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms of BnOCPA and its derivatives.
  • Assess BnOCPA’s efficacy in neuropathic and inflammatory pain models.

Research Environment

The successful candidate will join a collaborative team across three leading neuroscience labs at Warwick (Frenguelli, Wall, and Zhang groups), based in the cutting-edge Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building (IBRB). These labs specialize in:

  • Synaptic transmission and plasticity
  • Pain physiology and analgesia
  • Neurophysiology of stress, epilepsy, and neurodegeneration

For lab details:

Relevant publication: Nature Communications (2022)

About You

We seek a highly motivated researcher with:

  • A PhD (or equivalent) in neuroscience or a related field.
  • Expertise in experimental physiology, particularly in:
    • Electrophysiology (ideally patch-clamping)
    • Behavioral assessment of pain and analgesia
  • A strong experimental track record, demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications.
  • A willingness to learn new techniques and contribute to a multidisciplinary team.

Near PhD submission? Candidates awaiting their PhD award may initially be appointed as Research Assistants (Grade 5, University pay scale) and will be promoted to Research Fellow (Grade 6) upon successful PhD confirmation.

Professional Development & Opportunities

  • Regular presentation opportunities at local, national, and international conferences.
  • Collaboration with a diverse and interdisciplinary neuroscience research team.
  • Access to state-of-the-art research facilities in Warwick’s Neuroscience Research Cluster.

Informal Enquiries

For more details, contact Professor Bruno Frenguelli at b.g.frenguelli@warwick.ac.uk.

To Apply: Visit the University of Warwick’s job portal and click “Apply”.

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