Job description
Recent clinical trials have revealed new classes of immune-based cancer therapies that target key pathways of the immune and immune-interacting tumour microenvironment. Either alone or in combination with conventional therapeutics or targeted therapies, these interventions have led to unprecedented results in patients with previously untreatable advanced disease. The future development of this class of agents for the significant fraction of cancer patients who do not respond to current immune therapies demands more in depth understanding of the anti-tumoral immune response. Such advancement necessitates the combination of patient clinical data with patient immuneprofiling using tumoral and blood biopsies with ex vivo models in which new imaging modalities and biotherapies can be tested.
 
The post holder will focus on developing independent research in Immunological profiling (as a tool for early detection of cancer – primary  cancer and secondary recurrence as well as for precision treatment). The work will directly impact data collection for various preclinical and clinical cancer studies within the CRUK City of London Centre  (https://www.colcc.ac.uk/our-organisation/, https://www.colcc.ac.uk/imaging-patient-therapy-response/) to better understand the biological determinants of biomechanical changes during cancer therapy.
 
The post holder will act as Senior Researcher within the group, work cross-disciplinary and lead a number of different projects by offering advice and, in some cases, direct supervision to other Research Assistants and phd students. The post holder is also expected to collaborate with team members regarding immunological aspects of their research.
 
This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract for 3 years in the first instance.
This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent.

Key responsibilities

• To work on molecular and cell/tissue analysis in close collaboration with clinical and basic scientists.
• To provide leadership (advise and direct supervision) in immunology related projects to other members of the lab (postdocs and phd students).
• To promote research initiatives and original contributions to the research programmes of the laboratory.
• To disseminate the research results through publication in scientific journals and presentation at appropriate conferences.
• To direct & devise new projects.
• To liaise with colleagues from King’s College London, other collaborative academic institutions on multiple patient immunological profiling projects.

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. PhD awarded in cancer immunology.
2. Experience in high dimensionalFLOW and Mass cytometry (CyTOF).
3. High level of expertise in processing and analyzing peripheral blood biopsies.
4. Knowledge of in-vitro immunological assays including 3 dimensional tumour-immune co-cultures.
5. Knowledge of relevant imaging platforms (e.g. multiphoton microscopy) and techniques.  
6. In depth understanding of cancer immunology and immunotherapy. 
7. Track record of publishing in cancer immunology, immunotherapy and tumour microenvironment. 
8. Interest in the field of translation cancer research. 
9. Experience in working in multidisciplinary teams. 
10. Ability to work within a team. 
11. Strong problem solving abilities.
12. An independent and innovative thinker.

Desirable criteria

1. Experience in the study and analysis of components of the immune system such as innate lymphoid cells, natural killer cells, monocyte/macrophage, and T regulatory cells. 
2. Basic knowledge of 3D imaging techniques and data analysis ®.

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.

 
This post is subject to Occupational Health clearance.