Imperial College London
Job Description
Job Title:
Research Associate
Section:
Immunobiology
Division:
Immunology and Inflammation
Department:
Medicine
Job Family and Level:
Academic and Research, Level B
Salary Range:
£27,400 - £39,920 per annum
Responsible To:
Professor Gavin Screaton, Dr Juthathip
Mongkolsapaya
Funding:
Wellcome Trust UK
Contract:
Full-time, fixed-term for three years
Location:
Hammersmith Hospital campus
Project Title:
Studies on the immunopathogenesis of dengue virus
infection
Research Programme: Dengue virus
Dengue virus is transmitted to man following a bite from an infected mosquito. There
are estimated to be around 2 billion people at risk from dengue in tropical and
subtropical countries with around 50 million cases occurring annually. Most dengue
illness is not life threatening and leads to a debilitating febrile illness, dengue fever.
However, in some cases dengue haemorrhagic fever can develop which can be life
threatening.
Dengue co-circulates as four distinct serotypes and immunity to one does not confer
life-long immunity to the others, indeed multiple sequential infections are common.
One of the fascinating features of dengue is that severe disease appears to be more
common during the secondary infection than during the primary encounter with the
virus, implying that the severe disease is driven in part by the pre-existing immune
response to the virus. Currently there are no specific treatments or vaccines for
dengue which are greatly needed as the incidence of dengue continues to rise.
In the laboratory we study the T and B cell immune responses to dengue taking
advantage of our close collaborations with two clinical study centres in Thailand. The
current positions are to work on aspects of the immune response to dengue. We are
seeking individuals with interests in immunology and the immunology of infectious
disease or molecular virology. Different aspects of the work will involve study of
antibody and T cell responses as well as the development of in vivo models of
dengue infection. One project will also involve the construction of recombinant viral
vectors to trial a new vaccine design.
Research Duties
























To take initiatives in the planning of research
To direct the work of small research teams
To identify and develop suitable techniques for the collection and analysis of
data
To conduct data analysis ensuring the validity and reliability of data at all
times
To maintain accurate and complete records of all findings
To write reports for submission to research sponsors
To present findings to colleagues and at conferences
To submit publications to refereed journals
To provide guidance to staff and PhD students
To attend relevant workshops and conferences as necessary
To develop contacts and research collaborations within the College and the
wider community
To promote the reputation of the Group, the Department and the College
To contribute to bids for research grants
To conduct and plan own scientific work with appropriate supervision
To maintain highly organised and accurate record of experimental work
To actively participate in the research programme of the Group
To publish in high quality journals and to present data at national and
international meetings
To participate in Group research meetings and internal seminars
Willingness to work out of normal working hours (including weekends) if the
requirements of the project demand
To collaborate with other allied scientists within Imperial College and
elsewhere in London and abroad, as appropriate
To contribute to the smooth running of the Group’s laboratories and, facilities
with other scientists, clinicians, technicians and students within the
laboratories
Assist in the supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate research
students and research assistants as required
To comply with the College, Division, and Section safety practices and to
attend courses on safety when appropriate
Any other duties as may be deemed reasonable by the Head of group as well
as Head of Division/Department/Section
Other Duties





To undertake appropriate administration tasks
To attend relevant meetings
To comply with relevant College policies, including Financial Regulations,
Equal Opportunities Policy, Promoting Race Equality Policy, Health and
Safety Policy, Information Systems Security Policy, Intellectual Property
Rights and Register of Interests Policies
To undertake any necessary training and/or development
Any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post as directed by line
manager/supervisor
Job descriptions cannot be exhaustive and so the post holder may be required
to undertake other duties, which are broadly in line with the above key
responsibilities.
The post holder is expected to observe and comply with all College policies
and regulations, for example Health and Safety, Data Protection etc.
Imperial College is committed to equality of opportunity and to eliminating
discrimination. All employees are expected to adhere to the principles set out
in our Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy, Promoting Race Equality
Policy and Disability Policy and all other relevant guidance/practice
frameworks.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

PhD in Biological or Medical Sciences or a closely related discipline or
equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience
Experience and Knowledge
Essential






Knowledge of immunology and molecular biology
Knowledge of research methods and statistical procedures
Practical experience within a research environment and / or publication in
relevant and refereed journals
Experience in dealing with specific groups of people, e.g. sponsors, patients
Practical experience in a broad range of techniques including cellular
immunology, molecular biology or virology, and murine models
Computer literate with a good knowledge of different computer programmes
with experience in data presentation and statistical analyses
Desirable

Experience of working with a containment level 3 pathogen
Skills and Abilities









Ability to conduct a detailed review of recent literature
Ability to develop and apply new concepts
Creative approach to problem-solving
Excellent verbal communication skills and the ability to deal with a wide range
of people
Excellent written communication skills and the ability to write clearly and
succinctly for publication
Ability to direct the work of a small research team and motivate others to
produce a high standard of work
Ability to organise own work with minimal supervision
Ability to prioritise own work in response to deadlines
Advanced computer skills, including word-processing, spreadsheets and the
Internet
Personal Attributes





Willingness to work as part of a team and to be open-minded and cooperative
Flexible attitude towards work
Discipline and regard for confidentiality and security at all times
Willingness to undertake any necessary training for the role
Willingness to travel both within the United Kingdom and abroad to conduct
research and attend conferences
Application Guidance
Please read the person specification carefully and describe, as part of your
application, how much you feel you meet each of the criteria. If you need more
space, please attach additional sheets to the application form.
The recruitment monitoring section of your application will be detached and will be
used only for monitoring and audit purposes as a basis for supporting our
commitment to Equal Opportunities.
An application form and full CV quoting reference number HM2012019 should be
sent, by the closing date of 11 March 2012, online via the Imperial College
iRecruitment website.
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted as soon as possible after the closing date.
Thank you for your interest in this post. We look forward to receiving your application.