Post-doctoral Research Fellow, School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science

Applications are invited for a Temporary post of a UCD Post-doctoral Research Fellow Level 1 or 2 within UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science

Most pathogens infect or invade the host at mucosal surfaces, thus an efficient immune response against these pathogens requires mucosal immunity. Oral delivery of vaccines may provide better protection against pathogens that colonise or invade mucosal surfaces, by inducing mucosal immunity locally and at distal sites, providing multiple layers of protection and preventing the colonisation of the mucosal tissues by pathogens. The EncOVac consortium is developing a vaccine technology platform which fully integrates innovative technologies brought by the partners to develop effective, orally deliverable mucosal vaccines.

This post-doctoral fellowship project will focus on developing an oral vaccine against verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC). It will involve evaluation of protective immune responses, characterisation and prioritisation of VTEC vaccines from a pool of candidate VTEC antigens that were previously identified in the McClean lab.

The successful candidate will work closely with our collaborators in Poolbeg Pharma, AnaBio Technologies Ltd and Trinity College Dublin. This is an exciting research focused role funded by Enterprise Irelands Disruptive Technology Innovation fund (DTIF) programme.

The successful candidate will conduct a specified programme of research supported by research training and development under the supervision and direction of a Principal Investigator. You will work closely with industrial partners and with academic partners. You will further develop your research skills and competences, including the processes of publication in peer-reviewed academic publications, the development of funding proposals, supervision of research assistant and mentorship of graduate students.

This is a research focused role, where you will conduct a specified programme of research supported by research training and development under the supervision and direction of a Principal Investigator. The primary purpose of the role is to further develop your research skills and competences, including the processes of publication in peer-reviewed academic publications, the development of funding proposals, the mentorship of graduate students along with the opportunity to develop your skills in research led teaching.

In addition to the Principal Duties and Responsibilities listed below, the successful candidate will take a lead role in the following aspects of the research project:

• Prioritisation of VTEC antigens
• Characterisation of VTEC candidates
• Immunisation and challenge modules of novel oral formulations
• Evaluation of immune responses to vaccine antigens.

PD1 - Salary Range: 42,033 - 48,427 per annum or PD2 - Fixed Salary: 49,790 per annum

Appointment on the above range will be dependent upon qualifications and experience.

Closing date: 17:00hrs (local Irish time) on 28th March 2023

Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time specified. Any applications which are still in progress at the closing time of 17:00hrs (Local Irish Time) on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system. UCD are unable to accept late applications. UCD do not require assistance from Recruitment Agencies. Any CV's submitted by Recruitment Agencies will be returned. The PD1 position is intended for early stage researchers, either just after completion of a PhD or for someone entering a new area for the first time. If you have already completed your PD1 stage in UCD or will soon complete a PD1, or you are an external applicant whose total Postdoctoral experience, inclusive of the duration of the advertised post, would exceed 4 years, you should not apply and should refer to PD2 posts instead. or The PD2 post is intended for researchers that have completed PD1. As with the PD1, if you have already completed your PD2 stage in UCD or will soon complete a PD2, or your total Postdoctoral experience, inclusive of the duration of the advertised post, would exceed 6 years, you should not apply and should refer to Research Fellow posts instead.

Prior to application, further information (including application procedure) should be obtained from the Work at UCD website: https://www.ucd.ie/workatucd/jobs/