Research Fellow

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral Research Fellow position in the UCL Institute of Immunity and Transplantation in a research team led by Professors Emma Morris and Siobhan Burns.

The post-holder will work on the development of novel gene editing and gene therapy strategies for the correction of inborn errors of immunity (also known as primary immunodeficiency, PID).

Professors Morris and Burns work closely with Professors Claire Booth and Adrian Thrasher at the UCL Institute of Child Health (ICH), who have developed one of the largest translational paediatric gene therapy programmes for PID in the world. Professors Morris and Burns are now leading the adoption of cell and gene therapy approaches for adult patients with severe, life-threatening inherited diseases of the immune system.

Work in the laboratory includes the use of in vivo and in vitro animal models, human cell lines, and human primary cells. The post-holder will design viral vectors and CRISR guides and generate gene edited T cells and stem cells prior to functional validation of gene-edited cells in relevant model systems. It is anticipated over the course of 3 years the project will work towards pre-clinical validation and scale-up in preparation for early phase clinical trials.

The post is ideal for a motivated postdoctoral scientist who enjoys working as a members of a multidisciplinary team with multiple local and international collaborators.

See https://www.ucl.ac.uk/immunity-transplantation/people for further information about the research of Prof Morris and Burns.

The position is funded for a period of 3 years in the first instance.

Key Requirements

The postholder should have a PhD (or about to be awarded) in a relevant subject. The successful candidates must have significant experience in cellular and molecular immunology research. Evidence of scientific contribution including publications and presentation at conferences is also essential. Candidates must have excellent oral and written scientific communications skills, commitment to collaboration in research and to taking a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving. 

Please note: appointment at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be at Research Assistant Grade 6B (salary £32,217 - £33,958 per annum) with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis.

Further Details

A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page. 

To apply for the vacancy please click on the ‘Apply Now’ button . 

Informal enquiries regarding the vacancy can be made by email to Professor Emma Morris at e.morris@ucl.ac.uk.  

If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact Isabel Lubeiro at i.lubeiro@ucl.ac.uk 

Advert information