Post-doctoral Research Fellow (Fink Lab)

About us

The Fink lab at UCL is seeking an ambitious and highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Band 7) to join our team investigating the role of anti-cytokine auto-antibodies in immune dysfunction and disease during ageing. Leveraging access to unique clinical cohorts, the Fink lab aims to understand and improve poor outcomes of infection and vaccination in people living with frail immunity including during ageing, chronic virus infections, and organ failure, encompassing solid organ transplant recipients. The post holder will be based at the new state-of-the-art Institute of Immunity and Transplantation (IIT), in UCL’s Division of Infection and Immunity (Royal Free campus, Pears Building).

This project is an NIHR-funded collaboration with the UCL VIVALDI study and biobank, and the Ring lab at Fred Hutch Cancer Centre, Seattle, USA. We will generate the first unbiased auto-antibody association study for outcomes of infection and vaccinations in older adults using Rapid Extracellular Antigen Profiling (REAP) to test biobanked serum samples against >6000 extracellular proteins linked to VIVALDI metadata. We expect to find that diverse anti-cytokine and anti-chemokine auto-antibodies in older adults disrupt immune responses to impair infection and vaccination outcomes.

About the role

The successful candidate will be expected to perform high-quality research to validate auto-antibodies identified by REAP and undertake B cell immunophenotyping of the VIVALDI cohort. Working with collaborators in the McCoy lab, the candidate will also adapt B cell ELISpot assays, used to detect pathogen-specific B cell memory, to measure auto-antigen-specific B cell memory in the VIVALDI cohort. The successful candidate will also be expected to generate, analyse, and present scientific findings from the work undertaken to a broad range of audiences, both internal and external to UCL.

The position is available for 1 year in the first instance. The position may be extended, dependent on project success, funding, and scientific priorities. The post is ideal for a motivated postdoctoral scientist (or someone who is about to submit their thesis) who enjoys working as part of a multidisciplinary team.

About you

The successful applicant should have a PhD or equivalent (or soon to be awarded) in Biology/Immunology/Biomedical Sciences or a related subject and have significant experience working in a research laboratory.

A high level of attention to detail and a proven commitment to scientific excellence are essential. Competency in human cell biology and cellular immunology techniques are essential.

Candidates must have a track record of showing important contributions to research, commitment to collaboration in research and to taking a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving.

Note: Appointment at grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be at the Research Assistant Grade 6B (salary £38,607- £41,255 per annum) with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis.

Informal enquiries regarding the vacancy can be made by email to Dr Doug Fink.

If you have any queries regarding the vacancy, please contact our Divisional HR team.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits. Please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

Customer advert reference: B02-08437

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