Research Associate Fellow in Respiratory Medicine

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Job Summary

The post will be jointly supervised between Dr Anand Shah and Dr Aran Singanayagam. This is a 18 month post funded by an industry collaboration to identify the molecular pathways relevant to disease pathophysiology in the chronic respiratory condition bronchiectasis. The post will use existing ethically approved research projects to obtain clinical samples including upper and lower airway samples from individuals with chronic respiratory disease with a focus on bronchiectasis. A key aspect of the project will be to expand bronchial epithelial samples to be used within multiple analysis techniques and/or assays. In particular, the cultured cells will be used to create different models of disease such air-liquid interface cultures which can be used to study responses both before and after administration of different stimuli (e.g. pathogens or inflammatory ligands) and/or candidate molecules

We are aiming to recruit an enthusiastic, dynamic, and motivated postdoctoral research associate with an interest in host-pathogen interactions, who wishes to expand their research portfolio. You will join an exciting multidisciplinary group with expertise in immunology and molecular microbiology. The post holder will be required to work both individually and as a team and may be required to teach more junior members of the laboratory. You should integrate with the group with a cooperative, enthusiastic and flexible approach.

Essential Requirements:

PhD in immunology or equivalent vocational qualification

Work independently and be competent in general lab techniques, including cell culture, qPCR, ELISA, WB, bioinformatics and data analysis.

Desirable Requirements:

Prior experience in epithelial cell culture including air-liquid interface and/or pulmonary organoid models

Prior experience in analysis of large sequencing datasets (bulk RNA-seq) with associated competence in using R or similar analysis packages.

2. Key Relationships

The postholder will be integrated into the research group led by Dr Anand Shah and Dr Aran Singanayagam with a clinical translational research role across the Royal Brompton hospital and the Centre of Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London.

Selected papers from the Shah/Singanayagam lab

Almond M, Farne H, K, Jackson MM, Jha A, Katsoulis O (et al)Johnston SL, Singanayagam A. Obesity dysregulates the pulmonary antiviral immune response. Nature Communications 2023. 14: 6607.

George PM, Reed A, Desai S, Devaraj A, Faiez TS, (et al)Shah A, Singanayagam A. A persistent neutrophil-associated immune signature characterises post-COVID19 pulmonary sequelae. Science Translational Medicine. 2022; 14: 671

Singanayagam A, Foottit J, Marcyzynski M, Radicioni G, Cross MT et al. Airway mucins promote immunopathology in virus-exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. J Clin Invest 2022; 132: e120901.

Kamal F, Kumar S, Edwards MR, Veselkov K, Belluomo I, (et al.).Singanayagam A, Hanna GB*. Virus-induced volatile organic compounds are detectable in exhaled breath during pulmonary infection. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2021. 204: 1075-85.

Finney L, Glanville N, Farne H, Aniscenko J, Fenwick P, (et al.)Johnston SL, Singanayagam A. Inhaled corticosteroids downregulate the SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 in COPD through suppression of type I interferon. J Allerg Clin Immunol 2021; 147: 510-19.

3. Duties and Responsibilities

• To take initiatives in the planning of research
• To direct the work of small research teams
• To conduct data analysis
• To write reports for submission to research sponsors
• To present findings to colleagues and at conferences
• To submit publications to refereed journals
• To provide guidance to PhD Students

To maintain highly organised and accurate record of experimental work

To actively participate in the research programme of the Group

To participate in Group research meetings and internal seminars

To contribute to the smooth running of the Groups laboratories and, facilities with other scientists, clinicians, technicians and students within the laboratories

Assist in the supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate research students and research assistants as required

Any other duties as may be deemed reasonable by Head of group as well as Head of Division/Department/Section

Person Specification

Qualifications/ Education

Essential

• A primary degree in a health or biology related subject
• PhD in biology or related subject
• Work independently and be competent in general lab techniques, including cell culture, qPCR, ELISA, WB, bioinformatics and data analysis.

Previous experience

Essential

• Ability to work as part of a team as well as on own initiative

Skills/Knowledge/ Ability

Essential

• Work independently and be competent in general lab techniques, including cell culture, qPCR, ELISA, WB, bioinformatics and data analysis

Desirable

• Prior experience in epithelial cell culture including air-liquid interface and/or pulmonary organoid models
• Prior experience in analysis of large sequencing datasets (bulk RNA-seq) with associated competence in using R or similar analysis packages

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Brompton Hospital and Centre of Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London

London

SW3 6NP

Employer's website

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx (Opens in a new tab)