At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a collaborative team to analyse and annotate the first mosquito brain connectome.
- Company: University of Cambridge's Connectomics Research Group, renowned for innovative research.
- Benefits: Flexible working arrangements, mentorship, and opportunities for scientific independence.
- Other info: Engage with top researchers at Harvard and participate in public engagement activities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in insect neuroscience and contribute to groundbreaking research.
- Qualifications: Experience in insect neuroscience and handling large datasets is essential.
A Post-Doctoral Research Associate post is available in the Connectomics Group directed by Greg Jefferis in the Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge. Elizabeth Marin and Greg Jefferis have obtained a Wellcome Discovery Award to proofread, annotate, and analyse the first mosquito brain connectome, with an initial focus on the chemosensory circuits involved in human host-seeking.
We seek to recruit a postdoc to join a small, highly collaborative project team engaged in circuit reconstruction, systematic meta annotation (especially cell types) of this novel dataset, and comparisons with Drosophilid connectomes. This work feeds into the biological question of how stereotyped/variable brain wiring is (e.g. across distantly related species in the same order).
A background in insect neuroscience and experience with programmatic handling of large datasets will be essential. Prior experience with EM connectomics data and/or mosquito neurobiology is highly desirable.
Successful candidates will join a group based in Zoology with 15 team members engaged in connectome reconstruction, data processing and computational analysis. They will interact closely with a similar team at Harvard Medical School (Wei-Chung Allen Lee) as well as experimental groups at the MRC LMB in Cambridge (Greg Jefferis) and Boston University (Meg Younger, leading mosquito researcher).
Candidates will need to be highly motivated and develop a good understanding of the nature of the data and the scientific aims of the project. This will be critical to setting project priorities and eventually to leading on manuscript preparation and potentially developing open source tools for processing, annotation and analysis of connectomics data.
Close teamwork and a collaborative spirit will be essential, but team members will have increasing opportunities for scientific independence as their expertise develops. Candidates will report to a co-Principal Investigator based in Zoology and will be mentored by an experienced post-doc.
There will be opportunities to contribute to training new team members as the group expands and to general project management, as well as to participate in public engagement activities.
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for up to 3 years, with a possibility of extension (subject to project status and funding).
The closing date for applications is midnight (GMT) on 3 September 2026. The interview for this role is expected to take place during the week commencing Monday, 14 September 2026 (subject to change) and may be conducted remotely in exceptional circumstances.
For more information, please refer to the Further Particulars document. Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University. Part-time working or other flexible working arrangements will be considered.
Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to: Dr Greg Jefferis [email: gsxej2@cam.ac.uk] and Dr Elizabeth Marin [email: em711@cam.ac.uk]. If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact Zoology HR Office [email: hr@zoo.cam.ac.uk]. Please quote reference PF50549 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Research Associate - Connectomics Research Group (Fixed Term) in Cambridge employer: University of Cambridge
As a leading employer within the educational sector, we offer a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through continuous professional development opportunities and a culture that values accountability and customer focus. Located within a vibrant university setting, you will play a pivotal role in enhancing essential services that support teaching and research, making a meaningful impact on the academic community.
