Postdoctoral Research Assistant

Worldwide, three people are diagnosed with encephalitis every minute—and autoimmune/immune-mediated causes are now just as common as infectious ones. While earlier immunotherapy often resolves acute symptoms like seizures, children remain disproportionately affected by devastating, long-term neuropsychiatric and sleep disorders.

We are seeking an ambitious Postdoctoral Researcher to join a Wellcome-funded programme bridging this critical research gap. You will use preclinical experimental disease models and advanced electrophysiology to uncover how acute synaptic and neuro-immune disruptions drive persistent brain network changes—and identify new therapeutic targets to improve long-term outcomes for children. Working closely with an embedded clinical research team collecting longitudinal neuroimaging and cognitive data in children and young people, you will form part of a truly translational team.

Key Responsibilities

Drive Translational Discovery: Establish and characterise experimental models of paediatric autoimmune encephalitis to decode the cellular, synaptic, and network mechanisms behind chronic symptoms and test potential therapies.

Investigate Circuit Function: Perform whole-cell patch clamp and local field potential recordings to uncover synaptic and circuit dysfunction.

Capture Live Network Activity: Conduct stereotaxic surgeries to implant wireless EEG transmitters and osmotic pumps, analysing in vivo network connectivity and sleep/behavioural phenotypes.

Explore Neuro-Immune Crosstalk: Investigate how microglia and disrupted neuro-immune signalling drive persistent structural and network changes, contributing to complementary molecular analyses.

Manage Colony Operations: Oversee a genetically modified colony (breeding, genotyping, and accurate record-keeping) in strict compliance with Home Office regulations.

Share Impact & Foster a Positive Research Culture: Publish in peer-reviewed journals, present at international conferences, and engage with stakeholders and the public, while supporting a safe, inclusive, and sustainable lab environment.

About You

You will hold a PhD in neuroscience, physiology, pharmacology, or a related discipline. Strong hands-on experience in in vitro and/or in vivo electrophysiology and stereotaxic surgical techniques is essential, alongside familiarity with UK Home Office regulatory compliance. You bring advanced analytical skills, a collaborative mindset, and a commitment to open, reproducible science.

What We Offer

Aston University is a dynamic and vibrant campus located within Birmingham city centre, which has excellent transport links via bus or train. Excellent training and development opportunities. A generous annual leave scheme with 30 days bookable leave and a further 13 days bank holiday and University Closure days. Everyday discounts to a number of activities and retailers. Great family friendly policies. On site gym and pool with discounted staff membership available.

This role is likely to qualify for endorsement under the Endorsed Funder route of the Global Talent visa. This visa is for talented or promising individuals in academia or research in fields such as science, engineering, medicine, social sciences, or humanities.