The Macauley Lab at the University of Alberta is recruiting a motivated graduate student to join a project focused on neuroimmune mechanisms in Alzheimer’s disease. Our lab studies how immune receptors expressed by microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, influence disease-relevant processes such as amyloid plaque responses, cellular trafficking, lipid handling, inflammation, and communication with other brain cell types.
The student will contribute to ongoing work investigating how human CD33, an Alzheimer’s disease risk-associated immune receptor, shapes microglial function in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. This project is well suited for a student interested in neuroscience, immunology, glial biology, Alzheimer’s disease, glycobiology, or cell biology.
Depending on the student’s interests and experience, training opportunities may include mouse models, tissue processing, immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, molecular biology, image analysis, and transcriptomic or spatial profiling approaches. The successful candidate will join a collaborative research environment within the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute and the Department of Chemistry and will have opportunities to develop both wet-lab and data-analysis skills. Qualifications:
Applicants should be curious, organized, and enthusiastic about research. Prior laboratory experience in neuroscience, immunology, molecular biology, imaging, animal models, or bioinformatics would be an asset, but strong motivation and willingness to learn are most important.
To Apply:
Interested students should send a CV, unofficial transcript, and a brief statement of research interests to Dr. Matthew Macauley (macauley@ualberta.ca) and cc Dr. Meghan Connolly (mgconnol@ualberta.ca).
Posting end date: 2026-12-31