Senior Research Associate - (9587)

We are seeking an ambitious postdoctoral researcher with strong neuroimaging expertise to join a multidisciplinary programme investigating Parkinson's disease, treatment response and deep brain stimulation (DBS).

The postholder will contribute to a clinical neuroscience study involving people with Parkinson's disease undergoing assessment for and treatment with DBS. The research combines advanced MRI, electrophysiology, digital measures of motor function and clinical data, with a particular emphasis on identifying imaging markers relevant to disease mechanisms and treatment response.

The role would particularly suit a researcher with substantial experience in MRI acquisition, processing and quantitative neuroimaging analysis, who is interested in applying advanced imaging approaches within a clinically relevant, multimodal neuroscience programme.

About the role

You will:

• take a leading role in the processing, quality control and analysis of multimodal MRI data;
• develop and implement robust, reproducible neuroimaging pipelines;
• analyse structural and quantitative MRI measures, which may include diffusion MRI, susceptibility-sensitive imaging, neuromelanin-sensitive imaging and functional MRI;
• integrate neuroimaging measures with clinical, digital and electrophysiological data;
• contribute to the identification and validation of imaging biomarkers relevant to Parkinson's disease and treatment response;
• support MRI data acquisition and quality assurance within the research programme;
• contribute to participant-facing research and longitudinal study delivery;
• work closely with neuroscientists, clinicians, electrophysiologists and data scientists across academic and NHS settings;
• prepare high-quality publications and present findings at national and international conferences;
• contribute to supervision and training of postgraduate students and junior researchers;
• contribute to the development of new research questions and future funding applications.

The study includes multimodal MRI incorporating structural, diffusion-weighted, susceptibility-sensitive, neuromelanin-sensitive and functional imaging, alongside EEG and other research assessments.

About you

You will have a PhD, or equivalent research experience, in neuroimaging, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, psychology, medical physics, computational neuroscience or a related discipline, together with significant experience in quantitative human neuroimaging research.

You will have strong practical experience in one or more areas such as:

• structural MRI analysis;
• diffusion MRI and tractography;
• quantitative or microstructural MRI;
• susceptibility-sensitive or QSM analysis;
• resting-state or task-based fMRI;
• multimodal image registration and integration;
• reproducible neuroimaging pipelines and quality control.

Strong programming and quantitative skills are highly desirable, for example in Python, MATLAB, R, FSL, AFNI, FreeSurfer, MRtrix, SPM or related neuroimaging tools.

Experience in Parkinson's disease, movement disorders, DBS or electrophysiology would be advantageous but is not essential. We are particularly interested in applicants with deep neuroimaging expertise who are keen to apply those skills within a multimodal translational neuroscience environment.

Research environment

The successful applicant will join a growing programme of translational neuroscience and Parkinson's disease research at Manchester Metropolitan University, working alongside academic researchers and NHS clinical collaborators.

The post offers an opportunity to develop an independent research profile at the intersection of advanced neuroimaging, Parkinson's disease and treatment response, while contributing to a broader programme incorporating electrophysiology, DBS and digital neuroscience.

To learn more about role and requirements, please read the Job Description provided below.  

If you would like to join our people and share our ambition, we would love to hear from you! 

Application & Assessment Process: 

- To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter detailing your suitability, on the application portal. 

- Please be aware that only applications including a cover letter may be considered at shortlisting stage.  

- Assessment will include a panel interview.  

We believe in working together, sharing knowledge and valuing everyone's contributions. Develop your skills, further your knowledge and be part of a team who are transforming lives, every single day! 

Further Information

Manchester Metropolitan University fosters an inclusive culture of belonging that promotes equity and celebrates diversity. We value a diverse workforce for the innovation and diversity of thought it brings and welcome applications from local and international communities, including those from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ individuals. 

We support a range of flexible working arrangements, including hybrid and tailored schedules, which can be discussed with your line manager. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know so we can provide appropriate support. 

Our commitment to inclusivity includes mentoring programmes, accessibility resources, and professional development opportunities to empower and support underrepresented groups. 

Manchester Met is a Disability Confident Leader and, under this scheme, aims to offer an interview to disabled people who apply for the role and meet the essential criteria as listed in the attached Job Description for that vacancy.  

This vacancy is expected to attract a high volume of applications. Therefore, under the Disability Confident Scheme, only disabled people who apply under the scheme and best meet the essential criteria will be offered an interview.