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Research Assistant / Research Associate in Biosensors Research

Employer
KINGS COLLEGE LONDON
Location
London (Greater) (GB)
Salary
Grade 5, £32,676 - £37,297. Grade 6, £38,304 - £40,414 per annum, incl. London Weighting Allowance
Closing date
10 Feb 2021

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Job Details

The Department of Analytical, Environmental and Forensic Sciences (AEFS) is seeking a talented and enthusiastic researcher to work on an exciting UKRI-funded project titled “DisCoVer: Aptamer biosensors for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces”.

DisCoVer aims to develop new fluorescent biosensors for the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus based on recognition by aptamer-conjugated polymer nanoparticles. Through delivery to surfaces as part of an aerosolised spray reagent, this sensor will allow the ‘stand-off’ visualisation of viral deposits through the production of discrete areas of fluorescence.

Biosensor construction will be based on a ‘molecular beacon’ design, in which an initially quenched dual-labelled probe is restored to a fluorescent state upon SARS-CoV-2 binding.

This role will involve the design, construction and testing of the proposed biosensors. Research objectives for the post include (but are not limited to):

  • Characterisation of conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPNs)
  • Selection and testing of appropriate CPN-quencher pairs
  • Characterisation, optimisation and testing of aptamer sequences binding to SARS-CoV-2
  • Biosensor design, construction, optimisation and testing (sensitivity, selectivity, in situ application, etc.)

The successful candidate must possess an MSc/PhD (or have equivalent practical experience) in a relevant field and previous experience in biological assay development. A working knowledge of the analytical/conjugation chemistry methods likely to be utilised in this project (e.g.  nanoparticle synthesis, DNA immobilisation, surface plasmon resonance, spectrofluorometry and fluorescence microscopy) is also desirable. Strong communication and data presentation skills are also essential, as the post holder will be supported to publish project results in peer-reviewed journals, and present at national/international conferences.

The project is being run as a collaboration between the Department of Analytical Environmental and Forensic Sciences and the KCL Department of Physics, and is led by Dr. Nunzianda Frascione (AEFS), Dr. James Gooch (AEFS), Prof. Mark Green (Physics) and Prof. Chris Lorenz (Physics). The successful candidate will be based in Dr. Frascione’s laboratory at the KCL Waterloo Campus but may also conduct some work within the Department of Physics’ laboratories on the Strand Campus. The candidate will be expected to work closely with another Postdoctoral Research Associate on the project.

This project will run initially from the 1st March 2021 until the 31st August 2022. 

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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