Job description

We are looking for a dynamic and motivated Research Assistant/Research Associate to join a team working on the links between the Immune System, Clonal Haematopoiesis and Ageing. 

ARCH is an age-related phenomenon where individuals acquire mutations in their bone marrow and blood cells. In most cases, these mutations are not associated with clinically apparent haematological disease, but their presence correlates with an increased risk of developing chronic inflammatory diseases and blood cancers such as Myeloid Dysplastic Syndrome and Acute Myeloid Leukemia. 

The post-holder will be based in the Immunohaematology-oncology Lab led by Dr. Giorgio Napolitani, and will apply Mass Cytometry and state-of-the-art immunological techniques to define the immune landscape in the Bone Marrow and the Peripheral Blood of individuals with or without ARCH. The aim of this project will to characterize abnormalities in immune cell populations which might underlie the increased risk of developing chronic inflammatory diseases and blood cancers in individual with ARCH. The successful applicant will be embedded in a team including immunologists, haematologists and bioinformaticians working at the interface between basic and translational immune-haematology.  

The applicant will be expected to be a keen Immunologist with hands-on experience in immunological techniques (i.e. Flow Cytometry, isolation and culture of immune cells from patients’ samples) and will receive training in Mass Cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing.

Both postgraduate (pre-doctoral) and post-doctoral candidates are welcome to apply. A successful postdoctoral candidate can expect to be paid at Grade 6.  

Dr Napolitani is committed to helping promising researchers in developing their careers, and potential applicants are encouraged to contact him (giorgio.napolitani@kcl.ac.uk).

This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract initially until 30th June 2024, with the possibility of extension until 30th June 2025.  

Relevant publications: 

• Napolitani et al. Clonal analysis of Salmonella-specific effector T cells reveals serovar-specific and cross-reactive T cell responses. Nat Immunol 2018. 19/742-54 
• Jaiswal et al. Clonal haematopoiesis in human aging and disease.  Science. 2019 366/6465 

This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract until 30th June 2024 with possibility of extension. 

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

Key responsibilities

• To plan and execute experiments to a high standard.  
• To maintain accurate and complete records of all findings.  
• To prepare material for presentation in oral and poster formats.  
• To be an active team-member and set positive examples by showing a commitment to achieving results, encouraging and supporting junior members of the team and raising suggestions for continuous improvement.  
• To work alongside the PI and other colleagues in a collegiate manner and build rapport within the team.  
• Support the training of undergraduate and postgraduate project students.   
• Contribute to the preparation of grant applications and manuscripts for journal publication.   
• Understand and respect data governance guidance, especially in the handling of patient data.  

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 

Research Assistant (Grade 5)  

Essential criteria

1.    BSc/MSc in relevant biomedical or biological sciences.   

2.    At least 3 years of experience in immunology-focussed laboratory research  

3.    Experience in analysis of immune cells isolated from patients’ samples (e.g. flow cytometry, RNA-sequencing, imaging)   

4.    Ability to use initiative to efficiently plan, optimise and progress project and communicate findings  

5.    Extensive IT skills (including experience with flow cytometry analysis software and general data analysis software such as GraphPad Prism or Excel)  

6.    Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work with colleagues at all levels  

7.    Good written and spoken English  

8.    A willingness to contribute to the work of others by offering practical and intellectual help  

Desirable criteria

1.      Experience in multidimensional analysis of cytometry data 

2.      Experience in bioinformatics, good programming skills, including in R and python.   

Research Associate (Grade 6)

Essential Criteria

1.      PhD/Dphil (for Grade 6) in relevant biomedical or biological sciences.   

2.      At least 3 years of experience in immunology-focussed laboratory research  

3.      Experience in analysis of immune cells isolated from patients’ samples (e.g. flow cytometry, RNA-sequencing, imaging)   

4.      Ability to use initiative to efficiently plan, optimise and progress project and communicate findings  

5.      Extensive IT skills (including experience with flow cytometry analysis software and general data analysis software such as GraphPad Prism or Excel)  

6.      Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work with colleagues at all levels  

7.      Good written and spoken English  

8.      A willingness to contribute to the work of others by offering practical and intellectual help  

Desirable criteria

1.      Experience in multidimensional analysis of cytometry data 

2.      Experience in bioinformatics, good programming skills, including in R and python.   

Further information

We would like the successful candidate to start as soon as possible after the job offer (latest 1/8/2023).  

Planned interview dates: early June.