Research Fellow

**Ref Number**

B02-08213

**Professional Expertise**

Research and Research Support

**Department**

School of Life & Medical Sciences (B02)

**Location**

London

**Working Pattern**

Full time

**Salary**

£43,124-£51,610

**Contract Type**

Fixed-term

**Working Type**

On site

**Available for Secondment**

No

**Closing Date**

26-Jan-2025

**About us**:
Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position in the Division of Infection and Immunity, UCL funded by Wellcome (Investigator Award to Professor Mala Maini and Discovery Team Award to Prof’s McKeating/Issa/Maini/Quaglia). Work within the Maini lab aims to translate advances in the understanding of pathogens, cancer and the immune system into improved diagnosis and therapy. The lab is based within UCL’s Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, housed in the newly built Pears Building in Hampstead. Its close links to the adjacent Royal Free London hospital provide an excellent interface between science and medicine. Mala strengthens this translational focus by her own clinical links and those of her clinical colleagues.

The Division of Infection and Immunity provides an effective infrastructure for immunology/virology research and a lively and sociable environment, always striving for excellence. There is an established track record for post-docs gaining personal fellowships, with Mala having successfully supported seven of these just in the last couple of years; independently minded and talented investigators will be encouraged and supported in seeking such fellowship support.

**About the role**:
The lab’s central research goal is to re-direct the immune response to control hepatitis B virus (HBV) and resultant hepatocellular carcinoma by reconstituting successful T and B cell responses, working with patient samples, murine and _in vitro_ 2D/3D models. Our careful delineation of the unique immune cellular interactions and microenvironmental niche within the liver environment is informing the development of tailored therapeutic approaches.

This post will predominantly focus on a detailed in situ examination of viral/host interactions in human HBV-infected liver using cutting-edge multiparameter transcriptome and proteome approaches, including MACSima fluorescence microscopy. We will probe the topology of key immune effectors, such as tissue-resident memory T cells, in relation to HBV-infected hepatocytes and zonal hypoxia. This will be complemented with flow cytometric phenotyping and functional experiments on HBV-specific T cells.

The post is available to start from April, for one year in the first instance.

**About you**:
The post holder will be an enthusiastic post-doctoral researcher, expected to perform high-quality research under the supervision of the principal investigator, Mala Maini, working closely with her senior post-docs, PhD students and technicians in the lab. They will also work with co-investigator Prof Quaglia (liver histopathologist at the RFL) and collaboratively with co-investigator Prof McKeating and Prof Issa at the University of Oxford. We are seeking highly motivated individuals with the ability to generate their own research strategies and pursue them with determination, flexibility and creativity. They should have experience in human cellular immunology, ideally in viral adaptive immunity with some skills in tissue immunostaining and large data analysis.

Appointment at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be a Research Assistant Grade 6B (salary £38,357 - £41,005 per annum, inclusive of London Allowance) with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis.

**What we offer**:
As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

- 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
- Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
- Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
- Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
- Immigration loan
- Relocation scheme for certain posts
- On-Site nursery
- On-site gym
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
- Discounted medical insurance

**Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion**:
Our department holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality.