Post-Doctoral Researcher, School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology

23 Month, Fixed-term, Whole-time Post

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled immunology post-doctoral scientist to join our team to understand how oral and skin vaccine delivery technologies modulate the B cell repertoire in a relevant large animal model of vaccination. This SFI-funded project aims to understand the mechanism of action of two non-injected, thermostable, influenza vaccines, administered orally or using a skin patch, at the anatomical, cellular and molecular levels.  We are particularly interested in mucosal immunity and the breadth of cross-neutralising responses.

The project

The hired candidate will focus on analysing the repertoire of antigen-specific B cells induced by vaccination in a large animal pre-clinical model of an influenza vaccine. The scientist will produce and analyze repertoire data to compare processes of clonal expansion and affinity maturation in primary and secondary immune responses, induced by oral or skin patch administration. These studies will allow a detailed mechanistic understanding of how the delivery technology and route of vaccine administration impacts on the induced humoral immune responses in systemic and mucosal tissues.  This project builds on work conducted by our multi-disciplinary team of immunologists, veterinarians and industrial and academic collaborators.

The ideal candidate

The candidate will be highly motivated  and self-driven, with clear interest in cellular and molecular immunology and a willingness to learn. They will become responsible for designing, developing, optimizing and implementing next-generation sequencing (NGS) protocols for the characterization of sequences of interest for vaccine research and development.  The candidate must possess excellent communication, planning, organising, team working, practical, problem solving, and record-keeping skills. They must have a proven track record in publishing papers in peer-reviewed journals with respect to repertoire analysis in human and/or pre-clinical models. Experience with cell culture assays in immunology and multiparametric flow cytometry and sorting to examine vaccine-induced B cell responses is highly desirable.

The environment

This research has been supported by a prestigious Frontiers of the Future Award from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI). Our research is also funded by Horizon Europe RIA funding and the Higher Education Authority of Ireland as well as commercial partners. We strive to provide a vibrant research community that values career development  teamwork, scientific excellence, creativity, ambition and discovery to support innovation, within a multi-cultural environment, in a research-based, globally-oriented university, based in the heartland of Ireland’s energy, food, pharmaceutical and information and communications technology industries.

Project Title: Vaccine-induced Systemic and Mucosal Immunity

Post Duration: 23 months

Salary: €42,781 - €49,177 p.a. (IUA PD1 Salary Scale)

For an information package including further details of the post see https://ore.ucc.ie/

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Dr. Anne Moore, School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Tel: + 353 (0) 21 4205424; Email: [email protected] .

Applications must be submitted online via the University College Cork vacancy portal (https://ore.ucc.ie/). Queries relating to the online application process should be referred to [email protected], quoting the job-title and project name.

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12 noon (Irish Local Time) on Friday, 12 January 2024. No late applications will be accepted.

Please note that an appointment to posts advertised will be dependent on University approval, together with the terms of the employment control framework for the higher education sector.

UCC is committed to creating and fully embracing an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated.  As a University we strive to create a workplace that reflects the diversity of our student population where people from a wide variety of backgrounds learn from one another, share ideas, and work collaboratively. UCC is committed to being an employer that recognises the value of diversity amongst its staff.  We encourage applicants to consult our policies at https://www.ucc.ie/en/edi/policies/ and initiatives at https://www.ucc.ie/en/edi/implementation/ and we welcome applications from everyone, including those who are underrepresented in the protected characteristics set out in our Equal Opportunities & Diversity Policy.

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER