Research Associate in Immune Regulation

The Ono Lab at Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London is recruiting a Research Associate in Immune Regulation, focusing on mechanisms of the differentiation and function of regulatory T cells (Treg) in allergy and autoimmune contexts.

You will investigate mechanisms of the differentiation and function of regulatory T cells (Treg) using molecular biology and genomics techniques and making key discoveries at each milestone stage. Treg are promising materials for immunotherapy, although past attempts for clinical translation have not been found fully successful. To address this, the project will aim to make fundamental and translatable discoveries.

The Ono lab is widely known as the developer of the new technology Tocky, which allows analysis of temporal dynamics of Treg differentiation and activities. The project will use the power of Tocky to make exciting discoveries which can be translated into clinical contexts.

Relevant publications from the Ono lab:

Duties and responsibilities

• Actively plan experiments and produce primary research reports to be submitted to reputable journals


• Identify key genes in regulatory T cells and discover their molecular mechanisms


• Produce data and figures for research grant submissions / patent submission upon request by PI


• Good practice in keeping records of experiments and data analysis


• Report to the PI weekly progress in experiments and data analysis, keeping the PI up-to-date with progress


• Regularly make short-term and long-term plans and discuss with the PI, getting approval


• Molecular biology experiments (gene recombination, DNA/RNA purification, cloning, sequence library prep, transfection, transformation, retrovirus production)

Essential requirements

• Molecular biology skills including cloning, recombination, transfection


• Immunology skills including flow cytometry and compensation


• Communication skills to effectively convey plans, data, new findings and discoveries to the PI and to cooperate with other lab members


• Skills in timely keeping accurate data and safely storing important samples and reagents


• Skills in multi-tasking to manage complex logistics required for experiments

You should hold a PhD in molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, or related fields, and a track record of productivity with peer-reviewed publications.

In particular, we are seeking a candidate who are proficient in molecular biology techniques, including retroviral gene transduction and CRISPR, and have a strong background in immunology as well. You are encouraged to apply if you have more than one experience in the followings: Treg biology and flow cytometry, knockdown and/or CRISPR approaches, RNA-seq library prep and gene recombination.

Further information

This is a full time, fixed term position until 18 January 2025. You will work in the Ono Lab in South Kensington.

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as a Research Assistant within the salary range £38,194 - £41,388 per annum.

Should you have any queries please contact Dr Masahiro Ono m.ono@imperial.ac.uk.

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 which are ultimately aimed towards finding new treatments and making scientific and medical advances, and where there are no satisfactory or reasonably practical alternatives to their use. 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. Find out more about animal research at Imperial.

Documents

• Job Description Research Associate.pdf