Research Fellow (Maini Lab)

About us

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Institute of Infection, Immunity and Transplantation, UCL funded by a Wellcome Discovery Team Award to Prof.s McKeating, Issa, Quaglia and Maini. 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 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 Institute 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 successful candidate will join a dynamic group of basic and clinical scientists all working on integrated aspects of the immunopathogenesis and immunotherapy of hepatitis B, liver cancer and SARS-CoV-2, with a number of leading national and international collaborators. 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 microenviromental niche within the liver environment is informing the development of tailored therapeutic approaches.

This post-holder will work on a cutting-edge programme of work funded by a Wellcome Team Discovery award, collaborating with other group members at UCL and the University of Oxford. This post will be predominantly focused on a detailed in situ examination of viral/host interactions in human HBV-infected liver using cutting-edge multiparameter transciptome and proteome approaches. The project is providing exciting edge new insights into the topology of key immune effectors and suppressors in relation to HBV-infected hepatocytes and zonal hypoxia.The new post-holder will build on spatial transcriptomic data generated and analysed by the team of post-docs based in the McKeating lab in Oxford to complement this with targeted multiplexed cyclic immunoflourecence microscopy liver staining together with flow cytometric phenotyping and functional experiments.

This is a fixed term position available for 1 year in the first instance.

About you

The post holder will be an enthusiastic postdoctoral researcher, expected to perform high quality research under the supervision of the group leader, 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-investigators Prof McKeating and Prof Issa and their post-docs in 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 immunity, with skills in tissue immunostaining and large data analysis.

Please see the attached job description and person specification for full details. Please also read the attached Candidate Guidance document.

If you have any queries about the role or application process, technical issues, or need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online, please contact the staffing team at hr.ii@ucl.ac.uk.

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

Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

Our department holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality.