Postdoctoral Associate in Brain Cancer Immunotherapy

Location: Waterloo Campus

Contact details: Professor Khuloud Al-Jamal. Khuloud.al-jamal@kcl.ac.uk

About the role

A Research Associate position to research on Brain Cancer Immunotherapy is available for 12 months initially commencing in July 2024 (or soon after) to join a multidisciplinary and a highly collaborative team working on lipid nanoparticle-mediated co-delivery of immunogenic cell death chemotherapeutics and immune checkpoint blockade nucleic acids to treat brain cancer. Applicants will have the opportunity to contribute to other projects linked to brain research as opportunities arise.

Applicants should have a relevant PhD field and preferably post-doctorate experience in one of the following fields: pharmacy, drug delivery, cancer biology, immunology, molecular biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, material/chemical science or any other relevant fields. Holding a Home Office (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 Licence or equivalent and experience in handling animals is highly desirable.

The applicant is expected to contribute but not limited to the following: formulate and characterize lipid nanoparticles co-encapsulating drugs and nucleic acids. They will coordinate with neurosurgeons to acquire human tissue samples for further subculturing and xenotransplantation, perform cell culture studies using cell lines and patients’ tumour tissues, characterise immune cell death biomarkers and gene silencing at cellular and molecular levels in vitro and in vivo, prepare a humanised mouse model of brain cancer, perform tumour growth delays and survival studies, perform immune cell phenotyping in tumour tissues by flow cytometry, supervise MPharm/MSc students and co-supervise PhD students, maintain records of animal use and submit annual return form to the Home Office, contribute to grant writing, submit periodic report to the funder, disseminate research findings through writing research articles and present at international conferences and contribute to the agile and friendly working environment within the group.

Experience in one or more of the followings are required to successfully undertake the project: viral and non-viral delivery, lipid nanoparticle formulation, nucleic acid delivery, cancer immunotherapy, primary cell culture, stem cell culture, molecular biology techniques (namely PCR, flow cytometry and DNA/protein gels), neuroscience, orthotopic and humanised tumour mouse models, organ bio-distribution and pharmacokinetic studies and in vivo imaging. The position in the first year is funded by Brain Research UK.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate ability of independent thinking, engage in collaborative projects internally and externally. This is a highly attractive opportunity for mentoring an early career researcher aspiring to develop a track record in academia. Ability to manage projects and demonstrate organised administrative skills are essential. The applicant will co-supervise MPharm/MSc students.

This post will be based at The Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, and will be part of a large multidisciplinary team of scientists of different research backgrounds. Performing experiments in other London-based institutions is required. The applicant will report progress periodically to Professor Khuloud Al-Jamal and collaborate with co-investigators and collaborators of the project.

The contract is for 12 months from the contract start date on full time basis (35 hours per week) with possibility for renewal up to 2 years subjected to availability of funds and successful delivery of the project objectives/milestones.

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