Research Associate in Vaccinology Research

An exciting opportunity to work in an industrial-academic collaboration on DNA vaccines. The project aims to test a novel linear DNA vaccine (Doggybone) developed by Touchlight Genetics. It will involve in vivo immunisation and challenge studies, with downstream analysis of both the T and B cell response to the vaccine.

The role is based in the Department of Infectious Disease at St Mary’s Campus as part of Dr Tregoning’s research team. The project uses a variety of immunology and virology techniques, but with a focus on in vivo studies. Under the overall direction and supervision of Dr Tregoning, you will apply and extend your knowledge of relevant laboratory techniques. You will be responsible for the program of work and given scope to work independently as well as part of a team of vaccine researchers. You will get to contribute to other studies at various stages of development with a view to publications.

Research Duties

Under the direction of Dr Tregoning and Dr Caproni (Touchlight Genetics), you will be involved in:

• Planning and executing experiments
• Developing technical expertise and carry out a range of research techniques to time and quality standards.
• Documenting and analysing experimental data
• Participating in local laboratory meetings

Administrative Duties

• General laboratory administrative duties including ordering
• To help maintain a highly efficient working laboratory

Other Duties

• To ensure the validity and reliability of data at all times
• To assist with presentation of results to the group, collaborators, and to the research community in general

• To assist with preparation of grant reports and scientific publications

• To undertake any necessary training and/or development
• To attend relevant meetings

• Willingness to work out of normal working hours (including weekends) if required

• Any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post as directed by line manager/supervisor

• To collaborate with other allied scientists within Imperial College and elsewhere in London and abroad, as appropriate
• To promote the reputation of the Group, the Department and the College

• Research Associate: Hold a PhD in immunology or a closely related discipline, or equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience


• Research Assistant: Near completion of a PhD in immunology or a closely related discipline, or equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience


• In vivo experiment experience, current PIL


• Flow cytometry (multi parameter)


• Antibody analysis


• Ideally experience with infectious disease models.


• Track record of publication


• PhD in a related field


• Good interpersonal skills, open-minded and co-operative

This is a full time, fixed term position until 31 December 2022, based at St. Mary’s Campus, Paddington.

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as a Research Assistant within the salary range £36,694 - £39,888 per annum.

Please contact Dr John Tregoning ([email protected] ) for more information.

The College is a proud signatory to the San-Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA),which means that in hiring and promotion decisions, we evaluate applicants on the quality of their work, not the journal impact factor where it is published. For more information, see https://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-evaluation/

The College believes that the use of animals in research is vital to improve human and animal health and welfare. Animals may only be used in research programmes where their use is shown to be necessary for developing new treatments and making medical advances. Imperial is committed to ensuring that, in cases where this research is deemed essential, all animals in the College’s care are treated with full respect, and that all staff involved with this work show due consideration at every level. http://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-integrity/animal-research /