Imperial College London

Clinical Research Fellow in Human Infection Challenge

The closing date is 23 February 2026

Job summary

Are you an enthusiastic physician looking to bridge the gap between clinical practice and cutting-edge academic medicine?.

Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of life-threatening infection worldwide, and with the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the need for new preventive strategies is urgent.

Main duties of the job

You will be based in Dr Dinesh Aggarwal's research group to deliver the Staphylococcus aureus controlled human infection model. As a key clinical lead for this study, you will:

Contribute to protocol development, regulatory compliance, and safety reporting, ensuring the study meets the highest standards of Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
Work closely with the multidisciplinary team to screen and recruit eligible participants.
Provide direct medical care and supervision for healthy volunteers undergoing S. aureus skin challenge.
You will manage participant safety, monitor infection progression, and oversee the clinical team during inpatient quarantine and follow-up.
Beyond the S. aureus study, you will contribute to the delivery of viral upper respiratory tract controlled human infection models run by Prof Chris Chiu, giving you exposure to a diverse portfolio of cutting-edge experimental medicine.
You will have the opportunity to participate in the analysis of immune responses, bacterial genomics, and microbiome determinants, helping to identify the factors that determine susceptibility to infection.

About us

Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact. Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, we navigate some of the world's toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact. As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you'll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network. This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you'll join us at Imperial.

Date posted

11 February 2026

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Doctor - other

Salary

£52,655 to £73,992 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

MED05643

Job locations

Du Cane Rd

London

W12 0NN

Job description

Job responsibilities

The programme will start recruiting volunteers in mid-2026, and we anticipate the successful applicant will take up this position in March 2026. You will hold an honorary contract with the appropriate NHS Trusts and be expected to take on clinical responsibilities appropriate to your level of experience expertise, with training in study-specific areas provided:

Clinical study delivery

Assist with the setup and day-to-day management and delivery of the Staphylococcus aureus human challenge and other experimental vaccination or infection studies

Assist with recruitment and screening of healthy volunteers.

Provide direct clinical care to study participants admitted for S. aureus skin challenge, in liaison with the research nurses and study PIs.

Provide direct clinical care to study participants admitted for respiratory viral controlled human infection models, in liaison with the research nurses and study PIs

Support delivery of other clinical studies (including trials) within Dr Aggarwals group.

Acting as a point of contact for study participants to provide clinical advice and care before, during and after infectious agent challenge, under the supervision of the study PI.

Co-ordinate the development of study protocols and associated study documentation.

Prepare safety reports and briefings for the data safety monitoring committee.

Ensure adherence to the study protocols and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Work with the rest of the clinical team, in particular the lead research nurse and clinical project manager, to ensure all clinical research conducted is compliant with Good Clinical Practice.

Academic development, training and supervision

Possibility of enrolling for an MD(Res) or equivalent if desired and as appropriate

Participate in the analysis of immune responses using cellular and molecular immunology techniques if desired and as appropriate.

Participate in the analysis of S. aureus load dynamics and evolution using genomics if desired and as appropriate.

Participate in the analysis of host microbiome determinants of, and dynamics during, S aureus infection if desired and as appropriate.

Training of study associated personnel.

Troubleshooting issues while maintaining and developing good relationships with researchers and clinicians associated with the study in a variety of different settings.

Identifying and developing further research themes which may be developed within this or newly conceived studies.