Research Assistant in Comprehensive Cancer Centre

Job description

This is a research support post within the Comprehensive Cancer Centre and the Molecular Immunology Group at the Centre for Inflammation Biology and Cancer Immunology (CIBCI) at the Guy’s campus of King’s College London. These groups are working on a number of projects relating to antigen presentation and T cell response in cancer and inflammation with the aim to further characterise the underlying molecular mechanisms and identify potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets. 

The focus of this post will be to carry out a project on myeloproliferative neoplasia (MPN) funded by Blood Cancer UK (BCUK) for 3 years. The name of the project is: Identifying unconventional neoepitopes and immune phenotypes in Myeloproliferative Neoplasia to facilitate personalised combined immunotherapies.

The successful candidate will be expected to lead, under the supervision of Dr Mishto and Dr. Kordasti, a programme of research whose principal aims are: 

(i) discovery noncanonical (mutated) epitopes relevant in MPN immunotherapy. 

(ii) isolating CD8+ T cell clones specific for HLA-I-restricted neoepitopes carrying recurrent driver mutations in MPN, and cloning their TCRs to investigate the epitope generation in cancer cells; 

(iii) investigate the MPN immunome using CyTOF technology. 

Detailed knowledge of applied cellular and molecular biology and immunobiology, biochemistry and cloning would be highly advantageous.  

The successful candidate will have opportunities to interact with national and international collaborators with a broad expertise, which varies from computational biology to clinics, as well as Mishto lab at the Francis Crick Institute (London, UK). 

This post will be offered on  a fixed-term contract for 3 year 

This is a full-time post

Key responsibilities

•   Isolation of CD8+ T cell clones  

•   TCR sequencing and cloning in viral expressing vectors 

•   CyTOF analysis 

•   FACS, cell sorting 

•   Molecular and cellular immunology experiments 

•   Participating actively in related research projects, for example those looking at immune responses to antigenic peptides in patients 

•   Develop, lead and conduct designated research projects in collaboration with members of the group, department, division or the faculty and initiate and conduct research collaborations nationally and internationally.  To be responsible for co-ordinating and implementing research projects 

•   To make research initiatives and original contributions to the research programme wherever possible, including funding applications and to contribute freely to the team research environment in a manner conducive to the success of the research project as a whole 

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

•       flow cytometry 

•       ELISA, EliSpot 

•       CyTOF 

•       Western blots, proteomics  

•       long-term tissue culture 

•       basic molecular biology/biochemistry 

•       bioinformatics 

Essential criteria  

1.       A PhD in Cell or Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Immunology or a related subject  

2.       Track record of peer-reviewed scientific publications 

Desirable criteria

1.        Excellent knowledge and understanding of cell biology, molecular immunology, antigen presentation, T and B cell biology 

2.       Experience of mammalian cell culture 

3.       Experience of working with cell culture, molecular and cell biology projects, antigen presentation, T and B cells 

4.       Experience of working with flow cytometry 

5.       Extensive experience in modern cellular, molecular biology, biochemistry and imaging techniques 

6.       Experience of T Cell clone generation and maintenance 

7.       Effective time management and organisational skills 

8.       Ability to communicate effectively with researchers 

9.       Ability to manage a busy research project