King's College London

THIS VACANCY IS OPEN TO INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY

About us

​​We are a multidisciplinary preclinical laboratory, located at Denmark Hill Campus, with state-of-the-art in vivo neuroimaging and electrophysiology/EEG facilities, along with corroborative histological, autoradiographic, and behavioural techniques. The BRAIN Centre (https://brain-imaging.org) is part of the wider King's College London (KCL) imaging network, which includes a small animal Nuclear Medicine facility with PET and CT scanners at St. Thomas' Hospital, and the Centres for Ultrastructural Imaging and Nikon microscopy at Guys Campus. As part of the world-renowned Neuroimaging Department at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IOPPN), you will be embedded in a vibrant environment where preclinical and clinical collaborations thrive.

​You will have access to cutting-edge expertise in image analysis and statistics, and the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of scientists from KCL and beyond, spanning both industry and academia. This role offers an exciting chance to work in a leading research institution, contributing to ground-breaking studies and advancing the field of neuroimaging.

About the role

We are looking for a proactive and organised Research Assistant to join the Preclinical Neuroimaging and Biomarkers Research Facility (BRAIN Centre) as a laboratory manager—a leading research hub focused on advanced in vivo and ex vivo imaging techniques in the preclinical models.

In this pivotal role, you will support data acquisition using imaging modalities such as MRI, PET, autoradiography, and histology, alongside behavioural testing, electrophysiology, and microdialysis. You’ll play a central role in the day-to-day running of the lab, overseeing stock control, consumables ordering, equipment maintenance, and health and safety compliance.

Working closely with the biological services unit, you will coordinate experimental animal colony management, including breeding schedules and health records. You’ll also help maintain accurate protocols and SOPs, and provide hands-on support and training to researchers and graduate students.

The role involves some direct work with live animals, both conscious and under anaesthesia. Full training will be provided, and applicants must be willing to obtain (or already hold) a Home Office Personal Licence (PIL). Additional mandatory training in radiation safety and MRI environments will be required.

This is a highly collaborative and rewarding position, offering the opportunity to contribute intellectually and technically to ongoing experiments. Your input will be recognised through authorship on scientific publications and involvement in manuscript and grant preparation.

If you are a self-motivated team player with strong organisational skills and a keen interest in neuroscience research, we encourage you to apply and become part of a dynamic and supportive research environment.

*This is a full-time position and you will be offered a 4-year fixed term contract.

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1. A BSc (or equivalent) in Biomedicine, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, or a related scientific discipline.
2. Demonstrated experience in adhering to research protocols and ensuring compliance with research governance standards.
3. Practical experience with wet lab techniques, including histological procedures.
4. Sound awareness of health and safety regulations relevant to laboratory and research environments.
5. Flexibility and willingness to undertake a range of duties aligned with the responsibilities of the role.
6. Proven experience in drafting, organising, and optimising written protocols or standard operating procedures (SOPs).
7. Experience managing laboratory operations, including procurement, stock control, and equipment upkeep.
8. Willingness and availability to work occasional weekends and bank holidays when required.

Desirable criteria

1. Hold (or willingness to obtain) a Home Office Personal Licence (PIL) for work with research animals.
2. Experience in cryosectioning and microtomy techniques.
3. Experience with behavioural testing techniques in preclinical models.
4. Technical competency in maintaining and troubleshooting laboratory equipment.
5. Practical experience in handling and working with experimental animals.

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

Further information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community. 

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's. 

As part of this commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process, it is our aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities. 

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible. 

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.