Job description

We are seeking to hire a highly motivated and enthusiastic research assistant to join the dynamic Autoimmunity and Immune Regulation Research Team at King’s College London. As part of the Department of Immunobiology, the group’s research focus is analysing immune responses in a range of human autoimmune and inflammatory diseases with specific interest in type-1 diabetes. Key and frequent interactions between clinicians, collaborators and basic scientists are a pivotal component of our research approach and our goals include the advancement of basic science and its application to the clinic. 

The successful candidate will be involved in conducting state of the art immune assays investigating the effect of neuromodulation on the adaptive immune system focussing mainly on effector and regulatory T cell responses.  

The successful appointee will be comfortable working in a multidisciplinary, collaborative and fast-paced research environment. They will be capable of working autonomously but also have excellent interpersonal skills to work as part of a team. Experience of relevant laboratory techniques including the isolation and culture of immune cells and flow cytometry would be an advantage, however, enthusiasm, dedication and a keen desire to learn new skills will hold more value and relevant training and guidance will be provided by our experienced team of scientists.  

This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract for 12 months 

This is a full-time post

Key responsibilities

•        To process and analyse samples from human subjects and animal models.  

•        To perform a range of immunological assays to quantify and profile pathogenic and regulatory immune responses.  

•        Perform tissue culture, including isolation and purification of cells from human blood samples. 

•        Perform in vitro assays to measure immune function, including high parameter Flow cytometry, ELISPOT/FLUROSPOT, suppression assays, proliferation assays and a range of molecular assays (RT-PCR, RNA-Seq). 

•        The candidate will be responsible for analysing and reporting assay results. 

•        The post-holder will be expected to carry out work under GCLP guidelines

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 BSc in relevant subject area  

2.      A good knowledge of the human immune system 

3.      Experience of laboratory-based research in a biomedical setting 

4.      Ability to learn new techniques  

5.      Effective time management and organizational skills 

6.      Honest and accurate recording of data 

Desirable criteria 

1.      A MSc in relevant subject area (covering basic Immunology) 

2.      Experience with processing clinical trial samples under GCLP guidelines. 

3.      Experience of tissue culture

4.      Experience with setting up assays to measure immune cell function. 

5.      Experience of high dimensional flow cytometry 

6.      Experience in the isolation and enrichment of immune cell subsets  

7.      Knowledge of computer programming (e.g. R or Python) 

Further information

The successful candidate must be comfortable in a multidisciplinary, collaborative and fast-paced research environment. 

An important part of this position is the ability to work autonomously and as part of a dynamic, matrix team environment.  

The candidate will keep good experimental record-keeping and have excellent written and communication skills.  

The appointee will possess problem solving skills to help deliver the target and ability to establish priorities with project team.