Research Associate

Location: South Kensington Campus

About the role:

We are looking to recruit two talented and motivated Research Associates to join the group of Dr. Michalis Barkoulas in the Department of Life Sciences at the South Kensington Campus of Imperial College London.

This is part of a Wellcome Trust-funded project focusing on understanding how C. elegans senses and defends against some newly discovered natural eukaryotic pathogens that belong to the oomycete group. You will be expected to primarily carry out independent and collaborative research on host-pathogen interactions. You will also contribute to other activities in the lab, such as undergraduate and postgraduate student supervision and public outreach events. The Department of Life Sciences is one of the top places in the UK for research intensity in Biological Sciences, with a particular strength in the area of infection and immunity.

Key References:

[1]. Proteasome inhibition triggers tissue-specific immune responses against different pathogens in C. elegans. Grover M, Gang SS, Troemel ER, Barkoulas M. PLOS Biology 2024 Mar 11;22(3):e3002543. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002543.

[2]. A PAX6-regulated receptor tyrosine kinase pairs with a pseudokinase to activate immune defense upon oomycete recognition in C. elegans. Drury  F., Grover M., Hintze M., Saunders J., Fasseas M.K., Constantinou C., Barkoulas M. PNAS 2023 Sep 26;120(39):e2300587120.

[3]. Fasseas MK, Grover M, Drury F, Essmann CL, Kaulich E, Schafer WR, Barkoulas M. Chemosensory Neurons Modulate the Response to Oomycete Recognition in Caenorhabditis elegans. Cell Reports 2021 Jan 12;34(2):108604.

[4]. Osman GA, Fasseas MK, Koneru SL, Essmann CL, Kyrou K, Srinivasan MA, Zhang, Sarkies P, Félix M-A and Barkoulas M. Natural infection of C. elegans by an oomycete reveals a new pathogen-specific immune response. Current Biology 2018 28, 640–648

What you would be doing:

• Take initiative in the planning and efficient delivery of research and data analysis.
• Supervise the work of undergraduate and postgraduate students and research assistants in the lab.
• Draft and help the production of publications for submission to refereed journals.
• Maintain accurate and complete records of all findings.
• Contribute to writing of reports for internal and external use.
• Identify and develop suitable techniques and apparatus for data collection.
• Prepare material for presentation in oral and poster formats for use within and outside the lab.
• Participate in Group research meetings and represent the lab in conferences.
• Help develop research collaborations within the College and the wider community.
• Comply with the College, Division, and Unit safety practices and to attend courses on safety when appropriate.
• Contribute to public outreach activities showcasing research from the group.

What we are looking for:

• Hold, or be near completion of, a PhD (or equivalent) in Biological Sciences
• Experience in research in Molecular Genetics, Cell and Developmental Biology or Biochemistry
• A successful track record of academic publications commensurate with experience
• Experience in lab management and supervision
• Experience in microscopy techniques
• Background knowledge in cell and developmental biology theory
• Excellent written communication skills and ability to produce material for publication
• Ability to prioritise own work in response to deadlines
• Creative approach to problem-solving
• Excellent organisation skills
• Willingness to work as part of a team

Further Information

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as a Research Assistant.

If you require any further details on the role please contact: Michalis Barkoulas – m.barkoulas@imperial.ac.uk                                                          

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