Postdoctoral Research Assistant

About the Role

Professor Grigg research group focuses on mechanisms underlying air pollution’s health effects. The Group identified the mechanisms whereby pollutants inhalation increases vulnerability to bacterial/viral infection; how children with asthma and cystic fibrosis are more vulnerable to pollution; and the translocation of inhaled nanoparticles from the lung to distant organs. These studies have informed the public and influenced national policy. The Group leads major trials of new and existing asthma and bronchiolitis therapies and has extensive collaborative links, enabling members to expand their network and skillsets. The PRA will support mechanistic studies using cultured airway cells, extracted human tissue cells, and to develop/support animal studies. There will be opportunities to develop studies and grant applications, examples of studies:

1. A nationwide collaboration to study pregnancy-specific toxicological responses to airborne materials, air pollution exposure behaviours and linking these to child health outcomes. Current work is generating tissue/blood samples to link modelled pollution exposures effects to real-world findings, aiming to identify surrogate measures of pollutants’ effects for future interventions.
2. A cross-site study led by the National Preterm Birth Research Centre, investigating air pollution’s effects on preterm labour and neonatal outcomes. Investigating the inflammatory effects of pollutants on placental tissue and cell function.
3. A paediatric study investigating inhaled pollutants’ effects on airway macrophage handling of invading organisms in cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. Techniques used include respiratory sample processing (isolation of different airway cells); microbiological cultures (bacteria, viruses, fungi) with metagenomic/16S amplicon sequencing; flow cytometry and ELISA.

About You

The successful candidate will have a PhD in a relevant subject, good knowledge in general molecular biology, cell culture, and DNA sequencing. Vaccinations for handling human tissue are required. Preferred skills include experience of bacterial/viral cultures, and animal license.

About the School/Department/Institute/Project

The Blizard Institute was established in 2003 and is one of six Institutes within the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, QMUL. The Institute comprises approximately 360 staff based in four academic Centres and one Public Engagement Centre, and supports a combined total of c700 postgraduate research and taught students. The Institute aims to deliver excellence in all aspects of research, teaching and clinical service.

About Queen Mary

At Queen Mary University of London, we believe that a diversity of ideas helps us achieve the previously unthinkable.

Throughout our history, we’ve fostered social justice and improved lives through academic excellence. And we continue to live and breathe this spirit today, not because it’s simply ‘the right thing to do’ but for what it helps us achieve and the intellectual brilliance it delivers.

We continue to embrace diversity of thought and opinion in everything we do, in the belief that when views collide, disciplines interact, and perspectives intersect, truly original thought takes form.

Benefits

We offer competitive salaries, access to a generous pension scheme, 30 days’ leave per annum (pro-rata for part-time/fixed-term), a season ticket loan scheme and access to a comprehensive range of personal and professional development opportunities. In addition, we offer a range of work life balance and family friendly, inclusive employment policies and flexible working arrangements.

Queen Mary’s commitment to our diverse and inclusive community is embedded in our appointments processes. Reasonable adjustments will be made at each stage of the recruitment process for any candidate with a disability. We are open to considering applications from candidates wishing to work flexibly.

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