Research Fellow in Development of Vaccine Production via Cell Free Expression

Contract Type: Fixed Term (Available on a fixed-term basis until 31/12/2026)

This role will be based on the university campus. We are also open to discussing flexible working arrangements.

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you wish to do research relevant to global health? Do you have an established background in molecular virology? Do you want to further your career in one of the UKs leading research intensive Universities?

Virus-like particles (VLPs) offer a low cost solution to vaccine development and are already in clinical use (e.g. against human papillomavirus and hepatitis B virus). They also avoid containment restrictions associated with the culture of infectious virus as are required for most conventional vaccine manufacture. We have developed VLP-based vaccine candidates for polio and hand, foot and mouth disease. These are produced in the yeast Pichia pastors by co-expression of the viral P1 precursor protein and the protease. 

The current project will involve investigation of cell-free expression technologies for VLP production. This could dramatically speed up manufacturing and could be used to supply vaccines at point-of-care e.g. in the global south.

Our approach combines both industrial and academic expertise in cell free expression, VLP technology with automation, in order to build a platform automated cell-free expression system for the decentralised manufacture of VLPs based on Pichia lysate.

The project is funded by CEPI and project partners are Centre for Process Innovation (Darlington), Imperial College London, LiberumBio, FioCruz, Universities of Waterloo, and Toronto. 

The successful candidate will work alongside other members of the team to purify and characterise VLPs.

For these roles, you should have a PhD (or close to completion) in molecular virology or a closely allied discipline. You should also have expertise in ELISA and in protein characterisation by Western blotting, as well as experience of working with yeast and purification of protein complexes. 

Salary Requirements of the Skilled Worker Visa Route» 

G7 - Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

For research and academic posts, we will consider eligibility under the Global Talent visa. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/global-talent

What we offer in return

•   26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!
•   Generous pension scheme plus life assurance– the University contributes 14.5% of salary
•   Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
•   Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
•   Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

And much more!  

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Nicola Stonehouse, Professor in Molecular Virology

Email: n.j.stonehouse@leeds.ac.uk 

Advert information