Research Assistant

Purpose and Main Duties

A part time research assistant (60% FTE) is required to contribute to the day-to-day running of several research projects associated with Professor Karmiloff-Smith’s Wellcome Trust grant. This grant aims to examine the link between Alzheimer’s disease and Down syndrome. Adults with Down syndrome are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) than the general population and onset tends to occur at a much earlier age. One of the reasons for this is believed to be the fact that one of the key genes implicated in Alzheimer’s – the amyloid beta (A4) precursor protein, or APP gene – is found on chromosome 21. This gene is overexpressed throughout the development of individuals with Down syndrome, who carry three copies of this chromosome. Although by age 30, all individuals with Down syndrome develop plaques typical of the brains of individuals with AD in the general population, not all of them go on to display the clinical symptoms of dementia, despite life expectancy having increased considerably. And these individual differences start very early. The project aims to elucidate these individual differences in young and older adults, but also importantly in infancy.

Candidate Requirements

The post holder will work with two postdocs and be responsible for testing infants and toddlers with Down syndrome, as well as neurotypical controls, coding data, and assisting with the analysis of a large set of behavioural, eye-tracking, EEG/ERP, genetic, and questionnaire data. Most of the data will have already been collected but experience with testing very young children is required. The post holder will also contribute to writing up the results for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Further Information

Salary: Grade 6 of the College’s London Pay Scale which is £31,693 rising to £36,150 pro rata per annum.

This job is a part-time position (three days per week), 21 hours per week (0.6 FTE), fixed term contract for one year in the first instance, with possible extension for a further year. The salary quoted above will be pro-rata for this part time post and is on the College’s London Pay Scale and includes a consolidated Weighting/Allowance which applies only to staff whose normal contractual place of work is in the Greater London area. The initial salary will be dependent on the skills and experience of the successful applicant. The appointment is subject to a probationary period of 6 months. Birkbeck also provides a generous defined benefit pension scheme, 31 days paid leave, flexible working arrangements and other great benefits.

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.

Interviews will be held on 12 July 2016.

For further information on this opportunity contact Miss Hana D’Souza, Postdoctoral Research Fellow (e-mail: h.dsouza@mail.bbk.ac.uk). A link to the PDF document containing the job description and person specification is available on the university’s website job page, which can be accessed using the apply button below.

Birkbeck is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from all candidates irrespective of their sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief. Birkbeck is a member of the ‘positive about disability’ two ticks scheme and guarantees to interview all candidates who meet the essential criteria for the post.