Research Assistant (Internal Only)

Job id: 084088. Salary: £37,332 -£42,099 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

Posted: 07 February 2024. Closing date: 18 February 2024.

Business unit: Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences. Department: Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology.

Contact details:Karen Liu. [email protected]

Location: Guy's Campus. Category: Research.

The main focus of the Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology is to investigate the mechanisms that control head development and repair, underpinning a broader understanding of the genetic basis of craniofacial malformations and disease. The department has over 60 research staff and major funding from the Medical Research Council, Biotechnology and Biomedical Science Research Council, ARC, Welcome Trust and European Union. All the groups occupy newly refurbished laboratories and core facilities on floor 27 of Guy’s Tower.

The postholder will contribute to research as part of the Congenital Anomalies Cluster of the MRC National Mouse Genetics Network (NMGN), and within the Liu Lab in the Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology at King’s College London. Work on this project will focus on the generation of genetically engineered mouse models aimed at understanding human anatomical anomalies.

Research Aims

The postholder will work closely with Prof Karen Liu, postdocs, technicians and PhD students within the Liu lab and NMGN https://nmgn.mrc.ukri.org to aid their experiments and to ensure smooth running of the project. Key desired skills include mouse colony maintenance, gene editing, molecular biology, advanced imaging and database management.

Person Specifications

The postholder will be responsible for maintaining colonies of genetically modified mice, including fluorescent reporter lines and mice with genetic mutations and for embryological experiments with genetically modified mice. Techniques may include genotyping, immunohistochemistry, light and confocal microscopy imaging, tissue and embryo culture and analysis of tomographic data. Engagement with research aims may lead to co-authorship. Additional training and career development opportunities will be strongly encouraged.

Experience in animal work is essential. Prior track record in mouse genotyping and embryological techniques is highly desirable. An active UK Home Office Personal License is highly desirable.

This post will be offered on an a fixed-term 1 year contract in the first instance.

This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent

• To carry out research activities related to the project, including maintenance of genetically modified mouse models, genotyping, embryology and histology.  
• To set up genetically modified mice and  for the NMGN Congenital Anomalies Cluster and for the Liu Lab.
• To support the smooth running of the lab and the Congenital Anomalies Cluster. 
• To work to an appropriate level of health and safety and perform such jobs as required for effective running of the laboratory. 
• To maintain an up to date and comprehensible record of laboratory work, to make results accessible and complete. To work in a timely and organised fashion to complete pieces of work, produce reports or analyses or contribute to scientific discussion. 
• To carry out research activities related to the project, including maintenance of genetically modified mouse models, genotyping, embryology and histology.  
• To set up genetically modified mice and  for the NMGN Congenital Anomalies Cluster and for the Liu Lab. 
• To support the smooth running of the lab and the Congenital Anomalies Cluster. 
• To work to an appropriate level of health and safety and perform such jobs as required for effective running of the laboratory. 
• To maintain an up to date and comprehensible record of laboratory work, to make results accessible and complete. To work in a timely and organised fashion to complete pieces of work, produce reports or analyses or contribute to scientific discussion. 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Essential criteria

• BSc in Biomedical Sciences or equivalent
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Good general lab skills
• Excellent practical animal handling skills
• Excellent embryology and developmental biology knowledge
• Experience with molecular biology techniques, such as cloning, PCR, In Situ hybridisation, immunohistochemistry
• Organised record keeping and experimental planning
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team
• Problem solving skills

Desirable criteria

• PhD level experience in a biomedical sciences subject
• Experience with mouse colony management, ideally with UK Home Office Personal Licence
• Experience with mouse embryology and genetic engineering approaches
• Interest in developing novel imaging pipelines (e.g. micro-computed tomography, fluorescent imaging)
• Interest in engaging with educational and outreach activities