Section of Infectious Diseases
Department of Medicine
MRC CASE PhD studentship in pre-clinical Vaccine Development
Payment of Home/EU Fees
and a stipend of £18,000 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 Campus in collaboration with Touchlight Genetics based in Leatherhead,
UK (http://www.touchlightgenetics.com/).
We are seeking a highly motivated student to work on a MRC Industry CASE funded
research project. The aim of the project is to optimise mucosal delivery of DNA
vaccines. Mucosal vaccination offers considerable benefits over systemic vaccination
due to the development of local immune responses. Our industrial partner, Touchlight
Genetics, has developed a new technology to make DNA vaccines. We hypothesize
that these constructs will have greater mucosal expression levels than conventional
plasmid vaccines.
The first part of the project will be spent optimising the expression of DNA vaccines
using an in vivo imaging system, testing different routes of delivery for optimal
expression (St Mary’s Campus). The second stage of the project will be performed at
Touchlight Genetics, generating DNA vaccine constructs against 2 important
respiratory infections (RSV and Staphylococcus aureus). The final part of the project
will be testing these vaccines for protection following immunisation.
Dr John Tregoning (http://www1.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/people/john.tregoning/) is
the academic supervisor. 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 and immunology is a major advantage.
Applicants must also meet Imperial College’s English language requirements –see
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/admissions/pgenglish
This studentship is open to home/EU. It includes payment of home/EU fees and
an annual stipend of approximately £18,000. The start date is 1st October 2012.
Enquiries and full applications, consisting of a full CV, supporting letter and the
contact details of two academic referees, should be sent to Dr John Tregoning,
john.tregoning@imperial.ac.uk, 020 7594 3176.
Closing Date: 18/06/2012