King's College London

About Us

The Santos Lab is part of the Department of Women and Children’s Health (SoPHLCS) and the Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology (SIMS), part of the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine.

The Principal Investigator is leading:

1. clinical studies into the diagnosis of common food allergies in children
2. mechanistic studies into the underlying immune response in food allergy and tolerance
3. studies to understand the biological basis of anxiety in food allergy

The main techniques in the Santos Lab are flow cytometry, cell sorting, ELISA and other Immunofluorescence-based assays, antibody depletion/purification and molecular biology techniques.

About the role

The Santos Lab at King’s College London is seeking a proficient Research Assistant with sophisticated understanding of the laboratory techniques, a solid foundation in the underlying science and excellent communication skills.

The Research Assistant will be trained in all techniques to perform their own experiments and to coordinate the performance of experiments by other group members.

The Research Assistant will work independently under minimal supervision, performing research laboratory experiments following established protocols and participating in the design of experiments and data analyses.

The Research Assistant will assist the Principal Investigator in the coordination of various ongoing research projects, experimentation, data collection, supervision of research students and organisation of the laboratory. 

The successful candidate will have a proactive and positive attitude, clear communication and self-motivation in the delivery of projects and management of the laboratory and will report to the Principal Investigator, Professor Alexandra Santos.

The main techniques in the Santos Lab are flow cytometry, cell sorting, ELISA and other Immunofluorescence-based assays, antibody depletion/purification and molecular biology techniques. The Research Assistant will be trained in all techniques to perform their own experiments and to coordinate the performance of experiments by other group members.

The Research Assistant will have a bachelor’s degree in Immunology, Cell Biology or a related discipline, will have prior laboratory experience. The Research Assistant will have experience in handling blood samples, perform cell separation, storage and freezing and in cell culture and flow cytometry. The successful candidate will have training in basic laboratory health and safety, excellent communication skills both verbal and written, ability to manage competing priorities and to solve problems effectively, proactively and positively. The Research Assistant will be able to work effectively under pressure and to liaise with internal colleagues and external collaborators. The Research Assistant will demonstrate understanding to comply with the Data Protection Act and the Human Tissue Act and will have a professional attitude at all times. 

This is a full time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 30.11.2026.

About You

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1. Minimum level 4 qualification, e.g., higher apprenticeship, HNC or other Level 4 award, plus work experience in relevant technical/scientific posts OR Considerable knowledge and skills gained through work experience in relevant technical or scientific posts
2. Evidence of an active commitment to career development including professional registration, such as RSci, or working towards CSci and clear progression in increasingly demanding jobs
3. Extensive technical experience and knowledge of a range of scientific procedures and the underpinning scientific theory applicable to the work area and their environmental impact
4. Clear spoken and written communication skills, with proficient computer use and strong interpersonal and influencing/behavioural skills
5. Proactive and responsive to contacts in immediate area, across King’s and externally (e.g., suppliers) to build relationships and network
6. Solutions-focused self-starter, with excellent planning and analytical skills, able to manage competing priorities and work with minimal supervision
7. Good working knowledge of regulations and best practice governing area of work, including Health & Safety and environmental sustainability
8. Knowledge of environmental impacts of laboratory work and an interest in reducing the negative impacts

Desirable criteria

1. Experience of supervising/advising junior team members, giving feedback on performance levels and training/coaching where necessary
2. MSc or PhD in Immunology, cell biology or a related discipline
3. Understanding of clinical trials’ principles and logistics
4. Able and willing to provide support beyond core hours, as required

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the next page after you click “Apply Now”. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

Further Information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.

Interviews are due to be held May/June

This post is subject to Occupational Health clearance.