Research Associate in Multisensory Integration and Neural Circuits

What we can offer you

• Opportunity to work on an ambitious Leverhulme Trust-funded project addressing fundamental questions in sensory neuroscience, behaviour and evolution.
• Access to a uniquely tractable chordate model, whole-brain imaging, controlled-stimulus platforms and connectomic resources, with close interaction between experimental and modelling researchers.
• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity.
• Grow your career: gain access to Imperial's sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression.
• As a member of research staff you have 10 development days to use to develop your skills and explore your career prospects
• Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 43 days off a year and generous pension schemes).
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

About the role

How does a compact nervous system combine different sensory cues to make a life-changing decision?

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Associate to join the Chatzigeorgiou Laboratory at Imperial College London and work on a Leverhulme Trust-funded project investigating multisensory decision-making in the larval tunicate Ciona intestinalis. You will examine how mechanical and chemical cues are integrated to control settlement, combining quantitative behaviour, controlled stimulus delivery, whole-brain calcium imaging, neural perturbation and computational analysis. With only 231 neurons and a synaptic-resolution connectome, Ciona offers a powerful opportunity to uncover general principles of sensory integration in a minimal chordate nervous system.

What you would be doing

• Lead experiments defining how mechanical and chemical cues interact to regulate larval swimming, settlement and metamorphic commitment in Ciona intestinalis.
• Develop high-throughput behavioural assays using millifluidic or microfluidic arenas and quantitative tracking.
• Perform whole-brain calcium imaging during precisely controlled unimodal and multimodal stimulation.
• Analyse behavioural and imaging datasets to identify nonlinear integration, cue hierarchy and temporal decision dynamics.
• Use targeted optogenetic and/or chemogenetic perturbations to test causal circuit mechanisms.
• Generate transient transgenic Ciona larvae and contribute to animal culture and experimental workflows.
• Publish findings in high-quality international journals and share data and code through open, reproducible workflows.
• Present work at national and international conferences and workshops.
• Work closely with the PI, students and project collaborators across experimental and modelling work packages.
• Help supervise students and contribute to the growth of the Chatzigeorgiou Laboratory at Imperial.

Further information

Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have not yet been officially awarded will be appointed as a Research Assistant.

This is a full-time post (35 hours per week).

This role is for a fixed-term contract for 3 years from 1 March 2027

If you require any further details about the role, please contact: Dr. Marios Chatzigeorgiou - m.chatzigeorgiou@imperial.ac.uk.