Section of Infectious Diseases
Department of Medicine
PhD studentship in HIV Immunology Research
Payment of Home/EU Fees
and a stipend of £17,500 approx per annum for 3 years
Applications are invited for a 3-year PhD studentship to work in the Mucosal Infection
and Immunity group within the Faculty of Medicine of Imperial College London at the
St Mary’s and Chelsea and Westminster Campuses. The main focus of the groups is
the investigation of the mechanisms of mucosal HIV transmission and development of
novel preventative strategies appropriate to a developing world setting. This has led
to the establishment of international collaborations aimed at preclinical identification,
development and selection of vaccine candidates that we have then used in formal
clinical efficacy trials.
We are seeking a highly motivated student to work on an IAVI (International AIDS
Vaccine Initiative) funded research project that aims to understand the generation
and maturation of antigen-specific B cells after vaccination. After vaccination, and
depending upon the vaccinating agent or route, a number of cell lineages are
involved in the elicitation of the humoral response. The specific network of cells
involved will have a major effect on both the quality and quantity of vaccine-specific
antibodies generated.
This project will seek to determine the B cell antibody repertoire (antibodyome)
response in people inoculated with an HIV vaccine. We are initiating a phase 1
clinical trial to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of an adjuvanted recombinant
CN54gp140 envelope trimeric protein in HIV-1 uninfected healthy volunteers.
Volunteers will be primed with the vaccine then boosted either 6 or 12 months after
the initial inoculation. Within this trial we will evaluate the kinetics of vaccine-antigen
reactive plasmablasts and the B and T cell responses in the systemic compartment.
We aim to determine the optimal kinetics of de novo-generated plasmablast
appearance in the peripheral blood, the immunoglobulin gene family usage and
maturation after the priming and boosting vaccinations. A concurrent assessment of
the early cellular responses (Th1/Th2/Th17) and the kinetics and nature of the
resultant memory B and T cells will provide important information on the cells
required to elicit an effective humoral response.
Professor Robin Shattock (http://www1.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/people/r.shattock/),
Dr Jill Gilmour (http://www1.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/people/j.gilmour/) and Dr Paul
McKay (http://www1.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/people/p.mckay/) will be the academic
supervisors. Applicants must have a first or upper second class degree from a UK
University or the overseas equivalent in a relevant area of biochemistry, immunology
or microbiology. In addition a Masters degree is preferable but not essential.
Experience in molecular biology, virology, and immunology techniques and tissue
culture is a major advantage. Experience or knowledge of working in a level III
Containment laboratory would also be advantageous. Knowledge of word
processing, data analysis, and data presentation software are also required and
excellent communication skills are essential.
Applicants must also meet Imperial College’s English language requirements – see
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/admissions/pgenglish
This studentship is open to both home/EU and overseas students. It includes
payment of home/EU fees and an annual stipend of approximately £17,500.
Overseas students should be able to demonstrate adequate financial support
to cover the difference between the home/EU fee and the overseas fee.
The start date is 1st May 2013.
Enquiries and full applications, consisting of a full CV, supporting letter and the
contact details of two academic referees, should be sent to Sarah Harman,
sarah.harman@imperial.ac.uk.
Closing Date: 28/02/2013