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Vacancy Type/Job category

Research Only

Department

Warwick Medical School, Biomedical Sciences

Salary

£33,348 - £43,155 per annum

Location

University of Warwick, Coventry

Vacancy Overview

Full time, fixed term contract until 31 May 2026. Starting 4 September 2023.

A BBSRC-funded postdoctoral position is available to investigate the molecular basis of inhibitory and CAR-T signalling in T cells, using optogenetics. The successful candidate will join the laboratory of Dr John James in the new, state-of-the-art Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building (IBRB) that is part of the Division of Biomedical Sciences at Warwick Medical School. Warwick offers an outstanding environment for discovery science in one of the best universities in the UK.

The James lab studies T cells, which are an essential blood cell-type in our immune system that can eliminate infections to keep us healthy. T cells contain an intricate signalling network, which decides whether the cells of our body have become infected. The lab develops new molecular tools to investigate the dynamics of the signalling network by engineering T-cell stimuli that are light-responsive, providing precise control over signalling in space and time. This approach enables us to directly answer questions about how T-cells can calculate the appropriate functional response, in a way not possible with standard techniques. The overarching goal is to find parts of the decision-making network that could be fine-tuned by drugs to improve our immune system when T-cell function becomes incapable of maintaining our health.

Applicants must have, or will shortly obtain, a PhD in molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, bioengineering, or similar. The successful candidate will be highly motivated and enthusiastic, with an outstanding academic track record and good communication skills.

If you are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD but have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant at the top of level 5 of the University grade structure. Upon receipt of evidence of the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of level 6 of the University grade structure.

Informal enquiries including a CV should be sent to [email protected].

Interview Date: TBC.

Job Description

JOB PURPOSE

You will work on a BBSRC-funded project on T cell signalling, investigating how inhibitory receptors can modulate T cell activation at the molecular level. You will also leverage the power of optogenetics to explore how CAR-T cell exhaustion could be disrupted through time-varying signalling dynamics.


DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Research and Scholarship

1. Conduct individual and collaborative research projects by undertaking experimental lab-based research, methods development and quantitative data analysis.

2. Have excellent record keeping and reporting of experimental setup and data. Adherence to lab standards for archiving, analysis and reporting including use of electronic lab notebooks.

3. Write up research work for publication in journals and preprint archives.

4. Translate knowledge of advances in the subject area into research activity.

5. Continually update own knowledge and understanding in field or specialism including attendance at scientific meetings where appropriate.


Teaching and Learning Support

1. Opportunities to contribute to the teaching and learning programmes in the department.

2. Assist in the supervision of undergraduate/postgraduate student projects and the development of student research skills.

3. May be involved in the assessment of student knowledge and supervision of projects.



The duties and responsibilities outlined are not intended to be an exhaustive list but provide guidance on the main aspects of the job. The post-holder will be required to be flexible in their duties.

Essential Criteria 1

Good honours degree and possession of a PhD, or close to completion of a PhD in a relevant discipline. (a,c)

Essential Criteria 2

Proven ability in research and evidence of quality research output in relevant field at all stages of training. (a, c, d)

Essential Criteria 3

A developing research profile with the ability to publish and/or produce high quality research output. Papers or manuscripts deposited on a preprint server are acceptable. (a, c)

Essential Criteria 4

Sufficient breadth and depth of specialist knowledge in the discipline trained in, including the relevant research methods and techniques. (a, c)

Essential Criteria 5

Significant lab experience in at least one aspect of the project, e.g., molecular biology techniques, cell signalling assays, flow cytometry or optogenetics. (a, c, d)

Essential Criteria 6

Good breadth of knowledge of computational methods relevant for data analysis (MATLAB, R, Python, ImageJ/Fiji or similar). (a, c)

Essential Criteria 7

Ability and potential to contribute to the development of funding proposals in order to generate external funding to support research projects. (a, c)

Essential Criteria 8

Precise, diligent working and eye for detail. (a, c)

Essential Criteria 9

Good people skills. (c)

Desirable Criteria 1

Experience working with optogenetic systems to manipulate cellular function. (a, c)

Desirable Criteria 2

Background knowledge of (immune) cell signalling and signal transduction. (a, c)

Further Particulars

For further information about the University of Warwick, please read our University Further Particulars.

For further information about the department, please visit the departmental website.

Warwick is committed to building an organisation of mutual respect and dignity, promoting a welcoming, diverse and inclusive working and learning environment. We recognise that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, and valued. Where possible, we go beyond legislation to provide a place where everyone can thrive, supporting all staff to achieve their full potential. We aspire to remove economic, social and cultural barriers that may otherwise prevent people from succeeding.

We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation. To find out more about our social inclusion work at Warwick visit our webpages here.

The University of Warwick holds an Athena SWAN Silver award; a national initiative to promote gender equality for all staff and students. Further information about the work of the University in relation to Athena SWAN can be found at the following link: Athena Swan (warwick.ac.uk)

The University of Warwick is one of the six founder institutions of the EUTOPIA European University alliance, whose aim is to become by 2025 an open, multicultural, confederated operation of connected campuses.

Right to work in the UK

If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa in the UK points-based immigration system please click on this link which contains further information about obtaining right to work in the UK and details about eligibility for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker Visa.

Please refer to this link for a full list of the benefits here.

Closing Date

30 Jul 2023