Research Associate - University of Glasgow

Job Purpose

This post, funded by the Wellcome Trust is to investigate mechanisms that can prevent opioid misuse and opioid-use-disorder and hence have a major impact on the global opioid crisis. In exciting breakthrough studies, we have discovered that inhibition of the M5 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M5-receptor) can prevent opioid drug seeking and reduce cue-induced relapse. The implications of our findings are huge. They indicate that by co-administration of a drug that inhibits the M5-receptor with opioid analgesics we can reduce the likelihood of patients becoming addicted to opioids and for those patients in remission from opioid addiction we can reduce the likelihood of relapse. This project will work in close collaboration with leading in vivo pharmacologist Professor Carrie Jones, Vanderbilt University, Nashville USA, to understand fundamental aspects of M5-receptor biology and optimise ligands that can modulate M5-receptor activity to reduce the risk of opioid-addiction whilst retaining the drug’s analgesic properties.  As part of a multi-disciplinary team, you will generate novel genetically engineered mice that will be used in combination with unique tool ligands in conjunction with anatomical, behavioural and molecular biology-based studies to explore how M5-receptors regulate reward-seek pathways associated with drug-addiction and validate the potential of this G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) as a therapeutic target.

This is an opportunity for a highly motivated Research Scientist to conduct basic research with potential for pre-clinical translation. The candidate will be responsible for mapping the neuroanatomy of M5-receptor in the brain, pharmacological characterisation and in vitro and in vivo testing of novel agonists/ antagonists to M5-receptor and pre-clincal studies to validate the M5receptor as a target in the treatment of addiction. The candidate will be based at University of Glasgow in state-of-the-art laboratories located in the newly built Advanced Research Centre (ARC) in the heart of the University campus and have the opportunity to spend time in our collaborator’s lab in Nashville, Tennessee.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Take a leading role in planning and conducting assigned research individually or jointly in accordance with the project deliverables and project/group/School/College research strategy.

2. Conduct neuroanatomy studies and molecular biology-based experiments to understand the biological functions of M5-receptor signalling.

3. Conduct in vivo mouse behavioural experiments and ex vivo analysis of tissue.

4. Conduct in vitro pharmacological assays

5. Document research outputs including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, drafting technical/progress reports and papers as appropriate.

6. Establish and maintain your research profile and reputation and that of University of Glasgow/ School/ Research Group, including establishing and sustaining a track record of independent and joint publications of international quality in high profile/quality refereed journals, enhancing the research impact in terms of economic/societal benefit, and gathering indicators of esteem.

7. Survey the research literature and environment, understand the research challenges associated with the project & subject area, & develop/implement a suitable research strategy.

8. Presentation of work at international and national conferences, at internal and external seminars, colloquia and workshops to develop and enhance our research profile.

9. Take a leading role in the identification of potential funding sources and to assist in the development of proposals to secure funding from internal and external bodies to support future research.

10. Take a leading role in developing and maintaining collaborations with colleagues across the research group/School/College/University and wider community (e.g. academic and industrial Partners).

11. Take a leading role in team/group meetings/seminars/workshops and School research group activities to enhance the wider knowledge, outputs and culture of the School/College.

12. Take the lead in the organisation, supervision, mentoring and training of undergraduate and/or postgraduate students and less experienced members of the project team to ensure their effective development.

13. Perform administrative tasks related to the activities of the research group and School, including Budgets/Expenditure.

14. Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field/discipline.

15. Engage in personal, professional and career development, to enhance both specialist and transferable skills in accordance with desired career trajectory.

16. Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Head of School/ Principal Investigators.

17. Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University’s Strategic Plan, Inspiring People Changing The World.