Research Assistant Proactive vaccinology SARS CoV 2
Job Description
Faculty / Department
Faculty of Medicine
Salary
£43,003 – £46,297 per annum
Location / Campus
South Kensington Campus – Hybrid
Contract Type / Work Pattern
Full time – Fixed term
Closing date
23-Oct-2024
About the role
We have an exciting opportunity for a Research Assistant to join the Barclay Lab at Imperial studying how vaccine responses shape the antigenic evolution of viruses. Vaccination remains one of the most powerful tools to protect people from viruses. Unfortunately, viruses such as Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 evolve under the pressure of antigenic selection to variants that escape the protection of vaccines. The lag in vaccine development and deployment means that at the time of vaccine administration or soon after, variants that are not protected by the vaccine have emerged reducing the effectiveness of the vaccine.
Our goal is to understand the drivers of antigenic evolution of SARS-CoV-2, develop methods of predicting the direction of antigenic evolution and develop proactive vaccines designed to provide protection against the future variants that may emerge.
What you would be doing
The primary role of this post will be to support the Barclay research group in the development and running of deep mutagenesis platforms to understand how mutations in SARS-CoV-2 spike affect antigenic escape, stability and function. This will involve using FACS, pseudovirus based assays, a range of sequencing techniques and bioinformatics during the running of these assays and their validation.
More information on the Barclay lab research interests and activities can be found here: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/barclay-lab/
Additionally, the successful candidate will develop skills in the production of RNA vaccines by supporting the Shattock group in the development of saRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 variants. These vaccines will be used to generate antisera that will contribute to the antigenic cartography of SARS-CoV-2 variants.
More information on the Shattock lab research interests and activities can be found here:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/infectious-disease/research/immunology-infection/mucosal-infection-and-immunity/
What we are looking for
The candidate should have a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology, Biology or Virology or equivalent degree or vocational qualification
Experience in a molecular research laboratory
Computer literacy using Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
What we can offer you
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
Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 39 days off a year and generous pension schemes).
Further information
This is a full time and fixed term (3.5 years) position based at the South Kensington Campus.
Applicants will need to complete an online application. Please also see the Job description for further details.
Informal enquiries regarding the vacancy can be made by email to Professor Wendy Barclay: [email protected]
Available documents
Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.
Download: Employee Benefits Booklet.Pdf
Download: Research Assistant Job Description.Pdf
Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.
We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
If you encounter any technical issues while applying online, please don’t hesitate to email us at [email protected]. We’re here to help.
About Imperial
Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.
Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world’s toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.
As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you’ll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.
This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you’ll join us at Imperial College London.
Our Culture
We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.
Our values are at the root of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.