King's College London

THIS VACANCY IS OPEN TO INTERNAL CANDIDATES ONLY

About Us

This short-term role (two months) supports King’s College London’s & the Institute of Pharmaceutical Science’s strategic commitment to research excellence, medicines governance, and improving access to healthcare. Positioned within the Medicines Development activities, the role is responsible for ensuring the quality assurance of drone-delivered systemic anti-cancer therapies. It requires a unique blend of expertise in pharmaceutical science, drone piloting, and analytical methods. The postholder will contribute to pioneering approaches in medicine distribution and safety, working at the intersection of research innovation and clinical impact.

About The Role

Research Associate (Short-Term, 2 Months) – Aseptic Medicine Transport via Drone Delivery

Location: King’s College London, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science

Department: Medicines Development

Responsible to: Principal Investigator, Medicines Governance Programme

Responsible for: Quality assurance and analytical evaluation of drone-delivered systemic anti-cancer therapies and other pharmaceutical formulations

King’s College London is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Research Associate for a short-term appointment to support a pioneering project at the intersection of pharmaceutical science, drone technology, and healthcare innovation. This role aligns with the university’s strategic commitment to research excellence, medicines governance, and improving access to healthcare.

The successful candidate will play a critical role in evaluating the stability and integrity of aseptically prepared medicines delivered via drone, contributing to a novel approach in medicine distribution. The postholder will be embedded within the Medicines Development team and will be responsible for ensuring rigorous quality assurance across all stages of the project—from planning and flight testing to laboratory analysis and reporting.

Key Responsibilities:

Planning & Preparation: Set up laboratory infrastructure, procure consumables, calibrate instruments, and develop testing protocols and SOPs for monoclonal antibodies, nasal sprays, and tablets. Select and integrate environmental data loggers into medicine batches.

Flight Testing & Sample Collection: Coordinate drone deliveries under Good Distribution Practice to the University of Southampton, monitor flights, inspect retrieved medicines, and manage environmental data collection.

Laboratory Analysis: Conduct advanced analytical testing including SEC, DLS, HPLC, and UV spectroscopy to assess physical and chemical stability. Evaluate infusion bags for contamination and tablets per pharmacopoeia standards.

Data Analysis & Interpretation: Process and compare analytical data from control and drone-transported samples to determine the impact of aerial delivery on pharmaceutical integrity.

Reporting & Dissemination: Compile findings into a comprehensive report with recommendations for future regulatory considerations. Share results with stakeholders in pharmaceutical and regulatory sectors.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research with real-world clinical implications. The ideal candidate will possess expertise in pharmaceutical analysis, aseptic techniques, and drone operations, and be passionate about advancing healthcare delivery through innovation.

This is a full time post (37.5 hours per week ), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 22nd November 2025.

About You

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

Essential criteria

1. PhD qualified in Pharmaceutical Sciences with the thesis that include stability testing of drone flown medicines.
2. Experience with aseptic preparation protocols: Proven ability to work under aseptic conditions, including reconstitution and handling of monoclonal antibodies.
3. Drone pilot’s training or equivalent certification: Required for participation in controlled drone flight operations and medicine transport.
4. Hands-on experience with analytical techniques. Proficiency in SEC, DLS, HPLC, and UV spectroscopy for pharmaceutical analysis
5. Knowledge of Good Distribution Practice (GDP) and regulatory compliance. Familiarity with guidelines for transporting medicines and writing SOPs and testing protocols.
6. Strong data analysis and interpretation skills: Ability to correlate environmental data with pharmaceutical stability outcomes.
7. Excellent written and verbal communication skills: Capable of producing detailed reports and communicating complex findings to stakeholders.
8. Proven ability to manage complex logistical operations in research settings: Demonstrated experience in coordinating multi-stage experimental workflows, including procurement, sample tracking, and inter-institutional collaboration (e.g., medicine delivery between research sites).

Desirable criteria

1. Experience with environmental monitoring technologies: Familiarity with data loggers and interpreting temperature, humidity, and vibration data.
2. Knowledge of drone flight planning and regulatory frameworks: Understanding of airspace regulations and scenario design for drone delivery trials.
3. Experience in collaborative, interdisciplinary research projects: Ability to work across teams, including pharmaceutical, engineering, and regulatory domains.
4. Track record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals: Evidence of disseminating research findings in high-impact publications.
5. Experience in teaching or mentoring students: Involvement in student supervision or development of research skills.

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 page. 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.

As part of this commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process, it is our aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities.

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 in September.