Join the Francis Crick Institute as a Laboratory Research Scientist in Neural Circuits and Immunity

Salary: £31,675 to £35,900 plus benefits, based on skills and experience

Job Title: Laboratory Research Scientist – Neural Circuits and Immunity in Psychosis Lab

Reports to: Katharina Schmack, Clinical Science Group Leader

Closing Date: 16/Jun/2024 23.59 GMT

Job Description

This is a full-time, fixed-term position (June 2024 - December 2025) under Crick terms and conditions.

Our Neural Circuits and Immunity in Psychosis laboratory is seeking a highly motivated Senior Laboratory Research Scientist (SLRS) for maternity cover. The postholder will support lab operations and scientific endeavors. Responsibilities include managing day-to-day lab operations, supporting in-vivo behavioral experiments in mice, and training PhD students and postdocs.

The Research Group

We investigate the biological mechanisms underlying psychosis, aiming to develop innovative treatments for psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. Our research spans psychiatry, neuroscience, and immunology, pushing the boundaries of biological knowledge with rigor and passion.

We employ a variety of methods, including psychometric experiments, computational modeling, neural circuit manipulations, and immunological techniques, to study both human patients and mice.

Visit our lab web page:

Key Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day lab operations
• Order and manage lab materials and consumables
• Organize lab and team meetings
• Represent the lab within and outside the Crick
• Attend hub meetings and liaise with operations staff
• Perform organizational and administrative tasks
• Write and manage risk assessments and animal licence amendments and reports
• Oversee software and data organization
• Support lab members, including PhD students, with advice and guidance
• Coordinate onboarding of new lab members
• Encourage a positive and motivational lab atmosphere

Key Experience and Competencies

The ideal candidate will embody and demonstrate our core Crick values: bold, imaginative, open, dynamic, and collegial. Essential qualifications include:

Essential Qualifications, Experience, and Competencies

• BSc or Masters in Science, Neuroscience, Immunology, or related disciplines
• Previous laboratory experience
• Excellent organizational skills
• Strong communication skills and ability to provide feedback and guidance
• Good interpersonal skills for effective relationship-building
• Track record of collaborative projects and teamwork experience

Desirable Qualifications, Experience, and Competencies

• Programming and data analysis skills (e.g., MATLAB, Python, R, Linux, R Studio)
• Experience with cell line transfection and validation
• Basic laboratory techniques (qPCR, reagent preparation)
• Experience with flow cytometry
• Track record of writing papers evidenced by co-authored publications

Discover the generous pay and benefits package we offer:

Equality, Diversity, & Inclusion

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented Minority Ethnic groups. At The Francis Crick Institute, diversity, equality, and inclusivity are pivotal to scientific excellence. We ensure these principles are integrated into all our strategies, policies, and practices.

Learn more about our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion: