Job description
The Tumour Immunology Group at King’s College London (  https://www.kcl.ac.uk/lsm/research/divisions/cancer/research/groups/tig) have an opportunity for a Postdoctoral Associate to join their team. The post, which is a FTE fixed term contract for 3 years, will utilise in vivo models of cancer to investigate the pro-tumoral mechanisms of perivascular tumour associated macrophages (TAMs).     
TAMs influence many pro-tumoral processes which facilitate cancer progression (Muliaditan et al., 2018 Nat Comms/Clinical Cancer Research). Recently the group has taken an interest in a subset of TAMs which reside in close proximity to tumour vasculature and form a perivascular niche with alpha-smooth muscle actin expressing stromal cells (Opzoomer et al, 2020 BioRxiv). This post will build on the group’s current work to further characterise these cells and investigate their role in cancer progression. The project will utilize novel genetic models to study these cells with the aim to uncover previously unappreciated mechanisms through which these cells contribute to disease progression. The project will involve the use of flow and mass cytometry, single cell RNA sequencing and confocal microscopy to unravel the mechanisms through which these cells support tumour progression. This insight will then be used to identify therapeutic translational opportunities to target these cells.
The Post will be primarily based on the Guy’s Campus within the School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The candidate will work closely with the principle investigator Dr James Arnold and other members of the Team. The candidate will more broadly benefit from the interdisciplinary research and academic networks at King’s College London.  
 
The successful candidate must have (or be about to receive) a PhD relating to a tumour and/or immunology subject. Candidates should be proficient in murine experimental procedures and phenotyping of cell subsets using flow and/or mass cytometry techniques and have experience with single cell RNAseq.
 
An ability to perform computational techniques such as those associated with single cell RNA sequencing analysis will be highly regarded.   
 
This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract for 3 years. This is a full-time post.

Key responsibilities

• The successful applicant will be responsible for:  
• The day to day running of the project 
• Conducting experiments, analysing data and presenting to the supervisor 
• Supporting more junior members of the laboratory team 
• Working towards meeting project milestone deadlines 

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 
 

Essential criteria 

1. A PhD in a relevant area  
2. A good track record of research in a cancer and/or immunology-related subject. 
3. Experience using in vivo models; ideally relating to cancer 
4. To be competent in flow and/or mass cytometry and its analysis 
5. To have experience with RNA Sequencing (ideally single cell) and its analysis 

Desirable criteria 

1. Hold a Home Office Personal Licence  
2. To have a publication in a respected journal 

 
*Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6. 
 
Further information
Interviews will be held remotely in mid-late July and will include a 10 minute presentation of a previous research project that the applicant has conducted.  
 
This post is subject to Occupational Health clearance.