Research Assistant in Cancer Immunology (Maternity Cover)

Location - Oxford Centre for Immuno-Oncology, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7DQ

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Assistant in Cancer Immunology to join a Cancer Research UK (CRUK)–funded research programme as a maternity cover, investigating antibody effector functions in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with the ultimate goal of developing novel antibody-based therapeutics.

This is a wet-lab position is based at the Centre for Immuno-Oncology, within the Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, under the supervision of Dr Felipe Galvez-Cancino. The post is supported by a CRUK Career Development Fellowship and forms part of a broader collaborative effort across the University of Oxford and the Oxford Liver Cancer Centre of Excellence to improve outcomes in HCC.

You will oversee the preclinical models of liver cancer and administrative activities, in line with the overall programme. This implies perform and support in vivo work using HCC models induced via hydrodynamic gene transfer. You will be selecting and adapting experimental protocols, analysing and presenting scientific data, contributing to publications and research planning, and sharing findings with collaborators and research groups.

The role includes supporting and assisting the Principal Investigator with grant applications and collaborative initiatives, and contributing to high-quality publications and the appropriate management of intellectual property.

This position offers an excellent opportunity to contribute to the development of first-in-kind immunotherapeutic strategies for solid tumours.

It is essential that you hold a degree in human immunology, cancer biology, molecular oncology or relevant field with relevant experience and have sufficient specialist knowledge to work within an established research programme. You will have demonstrable experience in preclinical models of cancer and experience in working with human tissues, particularly collection, processing and analysis of blood and tumours. As such, you will have the ability to manage own academic research and associated activities, with excellent communication skills. You will have willingness to work in a Biological Services Unit and support animal work in compliance with ethical regulations.

Applications for this vacancy should be made online and you will need to upload a supporting statement and CV. Your supporting statement must explain how you meet each of the selection criteria for the post using examples of your skills and experience. Please restrict your documentation to your CV and supporting statement only. Any other documents will be requested at a later date. 

This post is to cover the absence of the substantive postholder, who is taking a period of maternity leave. The post is available until 2 January 2028 or the actual return of the substantive postholder, or the resignation of the substantive postholder and employment of a new postholder, whichever is the earliest.  This post is offered on a full-time basis and is funded by CRUK.

The expected start date for this role is January 2027.

Only applications received before 12 midday on Monday, 21 September 2026 will be considered. Please quote 188327 on all correspondence.