Postdoctoral Research Associate - Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Job ID: 008864

Salary: £39,345 including London Weighting Allowance Posted: 22-Oct-2020

Closing date: 23-Nov-2020

Business unit: Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine Department: Cancer & Pharma Sciences School Office Contact details: Dr James Arnold , james.n.arnold@kcl.ac.uk

Research

Job description

The Arnold lab (https://www.kcl.ac.uk/lsm/research/divisions/cancer/research/groups/tig ) have an opportunity for a Postdoctoral Associate to join their Tumour Immunology Group at King's College London. The post, which is a FTE fixed term contract for 1 year (in the first instance), will utilise in vivo models of cancer to investigate a therapeutic approach to harness the anti-tumour immune response.

Immune suppression in the tumour microenvironment (TME) is a major hurdle to the success of Immunotherapy in the clinic. We have demonstrated that the enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which is expressed by a subset of tumour associated macrophages (Nature Communications, 2018), plays an important role in immune suppression within the TME (Clinical Cancer Research, 2018). Cytotoxic chemotherapies, routinely used in the clinic, can be used to elicit anti-tumour immune responses. However, it is apparent that different chemotherapies have different immune-stimulating properties. Using preclinical models of cancer, we have been exploring the synergy of HO inhibitors with chemotherapy to achieve immune control of tumour growth.

The current postdoctoral position will build on the previous work from the lab and further the investigation of HO-1 in immune suppression. The project will characterise the chemical properties of an HO inhibitor and then explore its combination with different chemotherapies for evidence of anti-tumour immune control using in vivo murine models of cancer. The project will then immune-profile the TME, both cells and cytokines, following treatment using flow cytometry, confocal microscopy and qRT PCR to explain the biological mechanism of any tumour control achieved. The project aims to further our knowledge of how HO-1 inhibition can synergise with the immune-stimulating effects of chemotherapy.

The Post will be primarily based on the Guy's Campus within the School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The candidate will work closely with the principle investigator Dr James Arnold and support a collaboration with Dr Miraz Rahman's lab (https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/miraz-rahman). The candidate will more broadly benefit from the interdisciplinary research and academic networks at King's College London.

The successful candidate must have (or be about to receive) a PhD relating to cancer and/or Immunology. Candidates should be proficient in animal (mouse) experimental procedures and phenotyping of cell subsets using flow cytometry. A background in biochemistry/chemistry will also be highly valued.

Key responsibilities

• The successful applicant will be responsible for: 
• The day to day running of the project
• Conducting experiments, analysing data and presenting to the supervisor/s
• Supporting more junior members of the laboratory team
• Working towards meeting project milestone deadlines

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.

Skills, knowledge and experience

Essential criteria

The applicant must have:

• A PhD in a relevant area
• A good track record of research in a relevant area
• Research experience in a Tumour and/or Immunology and/or Chemistry-related project
• Experience using in vivo models; ideally relating to cancer
• To be competent in flow cytometry and its analysis

Desirable criteria

• To have research experience in both a biology and chemistry-related project
• Hold a Home Office Personal Licence
• To have a publication in a respected journal

*Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Further information:

Interviews will be held remotely in early December and will include a 10minute presentation of a previous research project that the applicant has conducted. 

This advertisement does meet the requirements for a Certificate of Sponsorship under Home Office regulations and therefore the university will be able to offer sponsorship for this role.