Closing date for applications: Monday 22 September 2025, 5pm BST

In-person interview dates: Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 November 2025


The UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) is committed to transforming the lives of people affected by neurodegenerative conditions. In partnership with Parkinson's UK, we are excited to announce the launch of our new Parkinson’s Research Centre (PRC) in 2025.  Led by inaugural Centre Director, Professor Miratul Muqit, FRSE FMedSci, the PRC will adopt a distributed, network structure, with researchers hosted in leading universities across the UK.

We are now seeking to appoint four Group Leaders (principal investigators) who will drive innovative research and contribute to our collaborative and inclusive scientific community. 

As a UK DRI Group Leader within the PRC, you will lead an internationally competitive research programme focused on Parkinson’s disease. You will contribute to an integrated, collaborative, interdisciplinary, and open science environment. We welcome applications from researchers in any scientific field relevant to Parkinson’s, aiming to advance our understanding of the mechanisms of Parkinson’s and to enable the rapid translation of these insights into drug development and tangible benefits for people living with the condition. We welcome applicants at any stage of research career from those seeking independence for the first time to established tenured researchers.

Do you have the scientific leadership skills to develop and run a programme of internationally competitive Parkinson’s research?

Are you able to identify, initiate and manage key collaborations to drive progress?

Do you have a commitment to supporting and fostering a positive research culture that is inclusive, nurturing of talent, and promotes open science?

Do you have a commitment to Patient and Public Involvement for dissemination and design of your research?

Do you have a desire to engage with key stakeholders to translate your research into new tests or treatments for Parkinson’s?

We're looking for people who have:

• An ability to develop and lead a programme of internationally competitive Parkinson’s research that complements the present research portfolios across the UK DRI and aligns with the vision of the PRC
• An established record of high-quality, impactful research, published in national and international journals and/or other quantifiable research outputs
• An ability to shape, develop, inspire and lead a research group
• A commitment to the involvement of people with Parkinson’s in research
• Excellent communication and networking skills, evidence of successful relationship building, collaboration, and project management
• An ability to attract research funding
• Evidence of commitment to nurture and support the development of the next generation of researchers
• A commitment to supporting and fostering a positive research culture that promotes diversity and inclusion, nurturing of talent, and open science
• An understanding and commitment to mission of the UK DRI and the vision of the PRC
• A postgraduate research degree, MD or PhD or equivalent
• For clinical applicants: A relevant registration in accordance with University requirements

Desirable:

• Commitment to engage with stakeholders to translate research into new tests or treatments for Parkinson's

The full job pack is available here. 

To apply:

The UK DRI’s structure provides that Group Leaders at the PRC are employed by the university at which they are based. The successful Group Leader applicants will be initially funded for five years with a salary and the resources to fund a personal research programme.

As part of the application, please tell us which university you prefer to be aligned with, provide a short justification. You may choose to be based at the one of the following universities: Cardiff University, Imperial College London, King’s College London, UCL, University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh, or University of Oxford. Each request will be reviewed, and the respective University will be engaged as part of the recruitment process if your application is taken forward.

To apply, please visit the UK DRI careers site, and submit:

• A cover letter outlining your background, your motivation for joining us, and your preferred university choice and justification.
• A research proposal, presenting your five-year research vision and the optimum university host for your research programme. This must be no more than five pages, including references and all material.
• A full curriculum vitae and details of three referees.
• A lay summary of your application. This must use appropriate lay language, avoid technical language, and give a realistic representation of the scientific sections. With advance notice, support can be sought from Parkinson’s UK’s patient and public involvement programme.

No agencies please.
By applying to this role, you understand and agree that your information will be shared within the UK DRI People & Culture team and/or any team members at the UK DRI, host University or Parkinson's UK who are part of the hiring process.

The UK DRI embraces diversity, inclusion and accessibility for all of our people. We are committed to building a diverse organisation that represents the communities we serve and ensuring inclusion in everything we do. This means ensuring our recruitment processes are barrier-free and as inclusive as possible to everyone. We will make adjustments for people who have a disability or long-term condition.

We look forward to receiving your application.

For candidates only: if you wish to have an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Prof. Miratul Muqit, Parkinson’s Research Centre Director via email: m.muqit@Dundee.ac.uk