Job description

The Institute of Liver Studies (ILS) and the Department of Inflammation Biology at King’s College London invite applications for a faculty position at the level of Lecturer or Senior Lecturer.  

 

This post will be based in the Institute of Liver Studies and hosted by the Department of Inflammation Biology and the School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences (SIMS) and will be predominantly based at the Denmark Hill campus. The ILS at Denmark Hill is Europe’s largest comprehensive clinical-academic liver centre. The academic team includes 7 faculty members with expertise/interests in liver & transplant immunology, regulatory T cell therapy, hepatocyte biology and transplantation, liver regeneration, microbiome, immunometabolism, autoimmunity, ischemia-reperfusion injury, molecular genetics and gene engineering. 

 

The position requires a PhD, postdoctoral experience, and an outstanding record of research achievements and publications commensurate to the level of appointment sought.  

 

The post holder will be expected to develop an independent basic and/or translational research programme and to obtain a portfolio of grant support to develop such programme. The laboratory will be established in the ILS and the research developed will be expected to complement, support or be aligned with the scientific strategic priorities of the ILS.  The post holder will be encouraged and expected to closely collaborate with the ILS investigators, and to establish links with other investigators at the Department of Inflammation Biology and the SIMS.

 

Given the multi-disciplinary nature of the Institute of Liver Studies and SIMS, the research remit of the post is intentionally wide. Priority will be given to the candidate’s track record and realistic prospects of obtaining independent funding and achieving international renown. One or more of the following areas of research will be favourably considered: transplant and/or liver immunology, immunoregulation, cancer immunology, inflammation biology, immunometabolism and/or ischemia-reperfusion injury, microbiome-immune interactions, bioinformatics/computational immunology, and gene engineering. Previous experience in liver/hepatobiliary research is not essential, but the candidate will be asked to articulate how the proposed research program will benefit/complement the Institute of Liver Studies’ already established research areas.

 

The post-holder will be expected to provide leadership in basic/translational research across the SIMS and KCL and to raise the profile of liver research at KCL and to the outside world. 

 

The post holder will supervise junior investigators and submit internationally competitive grant applications and scientific papers as PI or co-PI.  In addition, the post holder will also be expected to deliver undergraduate and post-graduate teaching activities and educational leadership in line with the Department, SIMS and King’s educational activities. 

 

This post will be offered on an indefinite contract 

This is a full time post - 100% full time equivalent

 

 

Key responsibilities

-        Create, manage and support an independent basic/translational research programme of international standing in a scientific area relevant to liver biology. 

-        Obtain independent grant funding to support the research programme 

-        Disseminate the outputs of the research programme through congresses and high-profile scientific publications. 

-        Deliver undergraduate and post-graduate teaching activities. 

-        Contribute to all academic activities and foster a collaborative academic environment within the ILS, the Department of Inflammation Biology and SIMS. 

 

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 

Grade 7

Essential criteria  

1.      PhD in a relevant biomedical discipline. 

2.      Proven successful track record of high quality basic/translational research of international standing in liver immunobiology and/or areas aligned with the ILS priorities (as described above). 

3.      Expert knowledge of contemporary cellular/molecular biology, immunology cell metabolism, or computational biology. 

4.      Capacity to think strategically in what regards research grant applications. Good understanding of the funding bodies available in the field of research and prospects of obtaining substantial grant income.  

5.      Growing research reputation as evidenced by substantial output of publications and reports in refereed and prestigious publications. 

6.      Growing ability to devise, lead and direct research projects. 

7.      Good understanding of the key unmet needs in liver biopsy research. 

8.      Proven ability to work co-operatively as a team member and foster national/international collaborative and interdisciplinary research. 

9.      Knowledge of Health and Safety. 

10.   Ability to communicate effectively with academic and managerial colleagues. 

 

Desirable criteria

1.       Computational biology skills

2.      Successful track record of charitable or preferably research council grants as independent investigator

3.      Growing national/ International reputation as evidenced by invitations to speak at conferences and by general public dissemination of knowledge. 

Skills, knowledge, and experience 

Grade 8

Essential criteria  

1.      PhD in a relevant biomedical discipline. 

2.      Proven successful track record of high quality basic/translational research of international standing in liver immunobiology and/or areas aligned with the ILS priorities (as described above). 

3.      Expert knowledge of contemporary cellular/molecular biology, immunology cell metabolism, or computational biology. 

4.      Capacity to think strategically in what regards research grant applications. Good understanding of the funding bodies available in the field of research and prospects of obtaining substantial grant income.  

5.      Growing research reputation as evidenced by substantial output of publications and reports in refereed and prestigious publications. 

6.      Growing ability to devise, lead and direct research projects. 

7.      Good understanding of the key unmet needs in liver biopsy research. 

8.      Proven ability to work co-operatively as a team member and foster national/international collaborative and interdisciplinary research. 

9.      Knowledge of Health and Safety. 

10.   Ability to communicate effectively with academic and managerial colleagues. 

11.   Previous experience leading an independent research group and delivering teaching activities  

 

Desirable criteria

1.      Computational biology skills

2.      Successful track record of charitable or preferably research council grants as independent investigator

3.      Growing national/ International reputation as evidenced by invitations to speak at conferences and by general public dissemination of knowledge. 

 

Further information

The successful applicant will become a member of the ILS and the Department of Inflammation Biology, which consists of 25 research faculty with expertise in autoimmunity, cancer immunology, immunotherapy, inflammation biology, liver immunology, rheumatology and transplantation, thus offering an excellent environment for team science. Additional cross-disciplinary collaborative opportunities will be available through the School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, which houses 48 principal investigators across three departments.  

Candidates with strong research track record are encouraged to contact Prof. Alberto Sanchez-Fueyo and/or Prof. Leonie Taams to discuss their potential suitability. Together with the application, candidates are asked to provide their CV as well as a 1-page document outlining their future research plans.  The selection process for shortlisted applicants will include conducting a research seminar, 1 to 1 meetings and a formal interview.