Research Fellows (Maini Lab)

About us

Applications are invited for Postdoctoral Research Fellow positions in the Institute of Infection, Immunity and Transplantation, UCL funded by the Maini lab’s Wellcome Discovery Award and CRUK Discovery Award (Co-applicants Meyer and Childs). 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 Infection, 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 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

Successful candidates 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. Our new Wellcome and CRUK Discovery awards build on this to fund exciting new programmes of work.

The Wellcome Discovery award funds work to characterise the HBV-specific T and B cell responses in blood and liver associated with viral control or infection resolution and to test preclinical strategies to recapitulate these successful responses with novel vaccine-delivered immunotherapies. The CRUK Discovery award funds a programme of collaborative work with our oncology colleagues Prof Meyer and Dr Childs, led by Maini lab senior research associate Dr Diniz, to profile and track changes in the intratumoral immune niche sustaining or constraining long-term responses to checkpoint inhibitor therapy and incorporate these findings into biomarker and immunotherapeutic vaccine development.

About you

Post holders will be enthusiastic postdoctoral researchers, expected to perform high quality research under the supervision of the principal investigator, Prof Mala Maini, working closely with her senior research associate Dr Mariana Diniz, post-docs, PhD students and technicians in the lab. 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/tumour adaptive immunity and tissue/liver immunology. One post requires expertise in antigen-specific T cells, vaccinology and in vivo work, one in tissue and/or antigen-specific B cells and one in tumour-associated neutrophils and immunostaining.

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

All applications must include a supporting statement, telling us, using examples, how you meet the essential criteria listed in the job description. Applications without a supporting statement will be rejected.

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.