Location
Norwich, Norfolk | United Kingdom
Job description
Main Purpose of the Job
Applications are invited for the LunaNova Fellowship to join the Laboratory of Prof Simon Carding in the Food, Microbiome and Health research programme at Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), based in Norwich, UK.
The successful candidate will undertake fundamental research investigating mechanisms of immune ageing. Specifically, the project will address the hypothesis
that ME/CFS is the result of premature aging of the immune system as a result of chronic exposure to, and stimulation by, microbes and/or their products, including viruses that are (re)activated as a result of prior infection, stress and/or chronic fatigue.
Samples will be obtained from patients accessed from biorepositories and from patients recruited to studies and clinical trials at the Quadram Institute. The post-holder will be expected to both develop new protocols and utilise existing protocols established at QIB, Universidad Catolica de Valencia (UCV), and University of Birmingham (UoB) for the assessment of endogenous eukaryotic viruses/viromes and immune function/ageing, respectively.
The role will be mainly laboratory based with some computational work required for data analysis and involvement in human study procedures. They will also write reports and publications, present findings at relevant meetings and conferences, assist in writing grants to secure funding for further research utilising research study and clinical trials samples, and supervise students.
Key Relationships
Line manager: Prof Simon Carding, Head FMH-ISP. The post-holder will be required to work closely with Dr Antonietta Hayhoe, QIB Human Study Lead, Dr Katharine Seton Invest in ME Research Fellow and with other postgraduate and postdoctoral scientists in the Carding group.
The post-holder will also be required to work closely with and to visit key collaborators Professor Elisa Oltra Garcia at UCV and Dr Niharika Duggal at UoB for the assessment of endogenous eukaryotic viruses/viromes and immune function/ageing, and contribute to project review meetings. QIB works closely with the UK charity Investin ME Research to establish a centre of excellence for ME/CFS research in Norwich and is part of the European ME Research Group (EMERG) which aims to promote and develop collaborative research across Europe. The post-holder will be expected to contribute to EMERG initiatives including the Young European ME Researchers Network which aims to promote collaborations between early career ME researchers across Europe and beyond.
Main Activities & Responsibilities
- Percentage
- Design and undertake assays to characterise blood-derived immune cells including flow cytometry-based phenotyping and functional profiling, gene expression/profiling assays, and interpretation of datasets.Design and undertake assays to identify and characterise viruses in patient-derived samples including blood (serum/plasma), stool and mucosa.Developing co-culture systems to investigate the impact of microbe-derived products and virus like particles on immune cells.
- 50
- Involvement in clinical trials including the collecting, banking, processing and/or analysis of samples
- 20
- Prepare results, reports and manuscripts for publication in leading scientific journals and other relevant media
- 5
- Seek appropriate funding bodies and apply for research grants
- 5
- Disseminate research findings through presentations to various audiences at internal, national and international meetings including the annual Biomedical ME Research Colloquium. Contribute to the running of Young EMERG.
- 5
- Ensure research and record keeping is carried out in accordance with good practice, scientific integrity and in compliance with local policies and any legal requirements
- 5
- Contribute to the smooth running of the Carding group, including the effective use of resources, supervision of students and visitors to the laboratory and assisting with training others, encouraging scientific excellence
- 5
- Continually strive for excellence, seeking out and acting on feedback and relevant learning and development opportunities
- 5
- As agreed with line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the role
Education & Qualifications
- Requirement
- Importance
- PhD or equivalent in biological sciences / immunology/ virology
- Essential
Specialist Knowledge & Skills
- Requirement
- Importance
- Cellular immunology; characterising phenotype and function
- Essential
- Mammalian cell culture
- Essential
- Molecular immunology
- Essential
- Knowledge of ME/CFS
- Desirable
- Virology
- Desirable
Relevant Experience
- Requirement
- Importance
- Experience in molecular and cellular immunology and development of assays/protocols to assess phenotype and function
- Essential
- Proven record in scientific writing – first author publications in peer reviewed journals
- Essential
- Experience of handling human samples including blood
- Essential
- Experience of viruses and virology
- Desirable
- Experience of microbiome data set analyses
- Desirable
- Experience of writing grants for research funding
- Desirable
- Experience of supervising, training and mentoring undergraduate and/or postgraduate students
- Desirable
- Experience of undertaking human studies and preparation of HRA submissions
- Desirable
Interpersonal & Communication Skills
- Requirement
- Importance
- Demonstrated ability to communicate with lay audiences through public engagement activities and outreach
- Essential
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
- Essential
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, using initiative and applying problem solving skills
- Essential
- Good interpersonal skills with the ability to work well as part of a team and lead a team
- Essential
Additional Requirements
- Requirement
- Importance
- Attention to detail
- Essential
- Ability to take initiative in science and communication
- Essential
- Able to present a positive image of self and the Institute, promoting both the international reputation and public engagement aims of the Institute
- Essential
- Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Institute, ensuring it is a great place to work
- Essential
- Promotes equality and values diversity
- Essential
- Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required
- Essential
- Willingness to travel within and outside of UK for collaborator visits, training and to attend scientific meetings (Reasonable adjustments will be considered)
- Essential
Job tags
Salary
£35.3k - £43.75k per annum
