Research Associate/Research Fellow in Beta Cell/Islet Biology

Salary: £43,205 - £50,585 per annum for Research Associate or £51,974 - £53,350 per annum for Research Fellow, including London Weighting Allowance.

Job description

Applications are invited for a four-year Post-Doctoral Research Associate/Research Fellow position working on a project funded by the Steve Morgan Foundation entitled ‘Towards translation: improving the functional survival of stem cell-derived beta cells’. The successful applicant will work under the supervision of Prof. Shanta Persaud, Dr. Aileen King and Prof. Peter Jones in the Diabetes Theme within the School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences at King’s College London. The project will use information from our spatial transcriptomic analysis of human fetal pancreas development to improve the generation of functional stem cell-derived beta cells, and then apply our expertise in beta cell/islet biology to ensure the optimal performance of stem cell-derived islets in vitro and in vivo. We are appointing two post-doctoral researchers and two research assistants to this project.

The successful candidate will have a PhD in a relevant biomedical sciences subject and have expertise in islet biology and in vivo models of type 1 diabetes, preferably with skills in islet transplantation. The main responsibilities will be determining the effects of mesenchymal stromal cell secretory products and extracellular matrix on stem cell-derived islet function; nanoencapsulating stem cell-derived islets to deliver biotherapeutics; and evaluating the effects of the best performing stem cell-derived islets in diabetic mice in vivo. This post-doctoral associate/research fellow post will be held within a vibrant islet biology research community at the Guy’s campus of King’s College London and it will be supported by a research assistant, appointed to start at the same time.

This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract, with proposed employment dates of 01/06/2024-31/05/2028.

This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria, grades 6 and 7

• PhD in a relevant biomedical sciences subject. 
• Post-doctoral research experience in a molecular cell biology discipline. 
• Human cell culture. 
• Isolation and functional analysis of islets of Langerhans or beta cells. 
• Using mouse models for diabetes or metabolic studies, including carrying out glucose tolerance tests.  
• General molecular cell biology techniques, including qRT-PCR, scRNAseq, immunohistochemistry, immunoassays. 

Essential criteria, grade 7

• Active participation in the planning of research projects.
• Ability to co-ordinate the work of other staff and students.

Desirable criteria, grades 6 and 7

• Experience of islet transplantation into mice  
• Experience of telemetric recording in mice. 
• Experience of human stem cell differentiation protocols. 

Desirable criteria, grade 7

• Ability to obtain research funding (directly or indirectly).

* Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

* Appointment at Grade 7 will be conditional on candidates fulfilling the criteria for appointment at this level, so we encourage applicants to address this in their application.

Further information

Interviews will be held in March. Candidates will be notified at least 5 days prior to the interview if they have been shortlisted. We would like the successful candidate to start on 01 June 2024.

Closing date: 24 March 2024

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