Research Fellow in Neurodevelopmental Disease Mechanisms

This Research Fellow position at UCL’s Queen Square Institute of Neurology focuses on investigating the role of the *DEAF1* gene in neurodevelopmental disorders. Based in the Jepson laboratory, the role involves generating and characterising *Drosophila* disease models, conducting genetic and behavioural experiments, and contributing to transcriptomic studies. The project aims to inform the development of a gene therapy for a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by *DEAF1* mutations. The successful candidate will collaborate with Dr. Gabriel Aughey and Dr. Jenna Carpenter, working across molecular biology, imaging, and data analysis to advance translational neuroscience research.

• Develop and characterise *Drosophila* models to study *DEAF1* mutations and their effects on neurodevelopment.
• Conduct genetic experiments to investigate the functional restoration of *DEAF1* in disease models.
• Perform behavioural assays to assess the impact of *DEAF1* disruption on nervous system function.
• Analyse transcriptomic data to elucidate molecular pathways affected by *DEAF1* mutations.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to integrate *Drosophila* and human cell model findings.
• Contribute to the design and execution of experiments aimed at informing gene therapy strategies.
• Maintain and optimise *Drosophila* husbandry and genetic screening pipelines.
• Present research findings at internal and external meetings.