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Research Assistant in Retinal Cellular Therapy

Employer
KINGS COLLEGE LONDON
Location
London (Greater)
Salary
£33,114 per annum including London weighting allowance
Closing date
10 Nov 2021

Job Details

Job description

The newly formed Centre for Cell and Gene Therapy (CCGT) is seeking to appoint an outstanding, skilled and ambitious Research Assistant to contribute to a programme of basic and translational research focussed on the development of clinical stem cell-based therapies for the treatment of blindness.  

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the interface of basic and clinical research in a group that is at the forefront of developing novel therapies for retinal disorders, with a major emphasis on translating research into clinical application. The Centre for Cell and Gene Therapy builds on a considerable body of research and large multidisciplinary research programme, led by Professors Robin Ali and Rachael Pearson (previously at UCL’s Institute of Ophthalmology). It is one of the largest cellular and gene therapy groups in the country and is currently expanding. Over the past 20 years, the group has been optimising cell transplantation and gene transfer to the eye with a comprehensive programme of work to develop novel therapeutic approaches for eye disease and in particular for disorders affecting the retina, including inherited retinal degeneration (Pearson et al., Nature, 2012, Gonzalez-Cordero et al., Stem Cell Reports, 2017; Ribeiro, Procyk et al., Cell Reports, 2021). The programme has already led to first-in-human clinical trials of gene and cell therapy for eye disease and the successful applicant will play a key role in pre-clinical development work for future trials for cell therapy.  

The post-holder will support the Principal Investigators and work on the pre-clinical optimisation of photoreceptor transplantation. We seek an individual with demonstrable cellular and molecular biology laboratory skills and experience and expertise in sample and tissue handling, cryopreservation, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative PCR. Experience in cell culture and associated aseptic procedures is required and excellent attention to detail and meticulous record keeping is essential. Experience in human stem cell cultures would be an advantage. There is opportunity to perform &/or assist with experimental animal procedures including transplantation surgical procedures, imaging, electrophysiology and a variety of predominantly non-invasive assessments of visual function. The post holder will work in a collaborative team environment with very high potential to learn new skills. Relevant experience is required but full training will be provided.  

 

This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract for 2 years 

This is a full time post - 100% full time equivalent

 

Key responsibilities

  • Plan and execute relevant experimental and analytic work in conjunction with the group leader, collaborators and other senior researchers in the group and be able to recognise when input from senior colleagues and managers is required.
  • Perform cell culture experiments and contribute to routine maintenance and differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells, using best practice.
  • Perform basic molecular biology experiments e.g. PCR, RT-PCR.
  • Perform cell biology experiments e.g. cell dissociation, preparation of samples for flow cytometry & cell viability assays
  • Perform histology techniques e.g. tissue embedding, sectioning, immunohistochemistry, confocal imaging.
  • Provide basic lab support and contribute to relevant tasks for optimal operation of the laboratory.
  • Maintain meticulous written records of laboratory procedures and data and present findings at lab meetings.
  • Contribute to general group management and technical support; actively participate in research team activities including contributing to team decisions, assisting in the supervision of student projects and facilitating the training of new staff.
  • Work both independently and within a team environment, with an emphasis on achieving the over-arching objectives of the research programme
  • Communicate complex information in a clear and precise way, both orally and in writing.
  • Have excellent organisational skills and be details-oriented.
  • Plan projects with senior researchers and act independently to take forward assigned projects.
  • Display a willingness and ability to learn, test and implement new methodologies including troubleshooting and training colleagues.
  • Use well-developed analytical skills to identify trends and patterns, using appropriate techniques and procedures to inform decisions
  • Take a role in maintaining a safe work environment and comply with local safety, health and sustainability guidelines.
  • Demonstrate leadership and innovation in the implementation of environmentally sustainable practices, recording progress through the King’s sustainability audit process and sharing good practice. Nurture and encourage sustainable practices and leadership within your team and networks.
  • Facilitate an inclusive culture and ethos working in partnership with academic, research and other professional services staff and colleagues external to King’s
  • The post holder will report to Professor of Developmental Neuroscience & Research Associate
  • The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Knowledge of and experience in:

  • Mammalian cell culture (experience of working with human stem cells would be an advantage), and standard cellular and molecular techniques.
  • Tissue collection and processing for immunohistochemistry and biochemistry
  • Microscopy, specifically using confocal imaging

Essential criteria

  1. Undergraduate degree (BSc) in Molecular and Cell Biology, Bioengineering or other related area (candidates nearing completion of their undergraduate studies will be considered, if the degree is expected to be awarded within the next 3 months).
  2. Strong interest in translational research and of the relevant field, demonstrated by reading the literature
  3. Competence in cell culture techniques and ability to adhere to strict protocols. Experience of working with long term, and antibiotic-free stem cell cultures specifically would be an advantage.
  4. Competence in molecular biological techniques including DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, etc
  5. Experience in immunohistochemical techniques, including tissue embedding, sectioning, immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry
  6. Ability to plan  and analyse experiments, prioritise work efficiently and work to deadlines
  7. Ability to work on own initiative, prioritise and organise competing workloads
  8. Ability to work both as a team member and independently
  9. Ability to work flexibly, understanding that research priorities can change and may require changes to experimental plans
  10. Evidence of commitment to high quality research
  11. Able and willing to provide support beyond core hours, as required.

Desirable criteria

  1. Experience in human stem cell cultures
  2. Experience of flow cytometry
  3. Experience in cell sorting techniques (FACS/MACS)
  4. Experience of GMP

 This post is subject to Occupational Health clearance.

Company

King's College London is one of the top 20 universities in the world and among the oldest in England. King's has more than 27,600 students (of whom nearly 10,500 are graduate students) from some 150 countries worldwide, and some 6,800 staff.

King's has an outstanding reputation for world-class teaching and cutting-edge research. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) King’s was ranked 6th nationally in the ‘power’ ranking, which takes into account both the quality and quantity of research activity, and 7th for quality according to Times Higher Education rankings. Eighty-four per cent of research at King’s was deemed ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ (3* and 4*). The university is in the top seven UK universities for research earnings and has an overall annual income of more than £684 million.

King's has a particularly distinguished reputation in the humanities, law, the sciences (including a wide range of health areas such as psychiatry, medicine, nursing and dentistry) and social sciences including international affairs. It has played a major role in many of the advances that have shaped modern life, such as the discovery of the structure of DNA and research that led to the development of radio, television, mobile phones and radar.

King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts are part of King's Health Partners. King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC) is a pioneering global collaboration between one of the world's leading research-led universities and three of London's most successful NHS Foundation Trusts, including leading teaching hospitals and comprehensive mental health services. For more information, visit: www.kingshealthpartners.org.

King’s £600 million campaign, World questions|KING’s answers, has delivered huge global impact in areas where King’s has particular expertise. Philanthropic support has funded new research to save young lives at Evelina London Children’s Hospital; established the King’s Dickson Poon School of Law as a worldwide leader in transnational law; built a new Cancer Centre at Guy’s Hospital; allowed unique collaboration between leading neuroscientists to fast-track new treatments for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, motor neurone disease, depression and schizophrenia at the new Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute; created the Cicely Saunders Institute: the first academic institution in the world dedicated to palliative care, and supported the King’s Sierra Leone Partnership in the Ebola crisis. Donations provide over 300 of the most promising students with scholarships and bursaries each year. More information about the campaign is available at www.kcl.ac.uk/kingsanswers.

Company info
Mini-site
KINGS COLLEGE LONDON
Telephone
+(44)02078365454
Location
STRAND
LONDON
WC2R 2LS
United Kingdom

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