Biochemical Sciences

Location: Guildford
Salary: £34,308 to £42,155 per annum
Fixed Term
Post Type: Full Time
Closing Date: 23.59 hours GMT on Monday 02 January 2023
Reference: 086922

Post-doctoral Research Fellow

We are seeking a dynamic and committed postdoctoral scientist to study the immunogenicity of a novel intranasal vaccine to induce cellular and molecular immune responses against SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19. You will undertake cellular and immunological investigations on vaccine and antigen induced immune responses including antigen-specific T and B cell responses. You should have a PhD with relevant experience in cellular immunology.

Despite the current vaccination that reduces the numbers of severe COVID-19 cases and death, it fails to prevent new infections in many people. One of the main reasons for the failure of current vaccines (administered intramuscularly) to effectively prevent infection is thought due to the lack of ability to induce local immunity in upper airway, as the injected vaccines produce antibodies mainly in the blood, few of which make it to the nasopharynx where the initial infection takes place. The project will investigate the capacity of a novel intranasal vaccine to induce both T cell immunity and antibody responses against COVID using an ex vivo cell culture system with human nasopharynx mucosal immune tissue. You will work in the research group of Dr Qibo Zhang along with Prof Deborah Dunn-Walters’s group and also work closely with other group members in the Immunology Section, School of Biosciences and Medicine (SBM). With the use of state-of-the-art facilities in SBM, the project will include analysis of antigen-specific IgA/IgG antibody responses (including virus-neutralizing antibodies) following vaccine stimulation of the immune cells from nasopharynx immune tissue. Detailed cellular and molecular analysis of vaccine-induced responses will be performed including activation of germinal centre response, follicular helper T cell and tissue resident memory cells etc. The work will involve the use of immunoassays (ELISA, ELISpot), confocal microscopy and multi-colour flow-cytometry, and cytokine array analysis etc.

For informal discussion about the post, please contact Dr Qibo Zhang (qibo.zhang@surrey.ac.uk).

Further details: Job Description

For more information and to apply online, please download the further details and click on the 'apply online' button above.

In return we offer a generous pension, relocation assistance where appropriate , flexible working options including job share and blended home/campus working locations (dependent on work duties), access to world-class leisure facilities on campus, a range of travel schemes and supportive family friendly benefits including an excellent on-site nursery.

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.

The University of Surrey is committed to providing an inclusive environment that offers equal opportunities for all. We place great value on diversity and are seeking to increase the diversity within our community. Therefore we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups, such as people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups and people with disabilities.