Location: | London |
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Salary: | From £43,210 subject to skills and experience, with benefits |
Hours: | Full Time |
Contract Type: | Fixed-Term/Contract |
Placed On: | 26th September 2024 |
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Closes: | 13th October 2024 |
Job Ref: | R1896 |
Location: The Francis Crick Institute, Midland Road, London
Short summary
The RNA Virus Replication Lab, headed by Dr David LV Bauer, was established in 2020 at the Francis Crick Institute. Our lab seeks to understand how RNA viruses replicate, how the unique properties of their RNA genome contribute to this process, and how immunity develops and in turn influences viral replication and evolution.
The Project
SARS-CoV-2 evolution has been characterised by antigenic “leaps” comprising large numbers of mutations (e.g. Omicron BA.1/2, then BA.2.86/JN.1) and natural recombination events between different strains (e.g. XBB). Monitoring of persistently infected patients and populations via wastewater suggests convergent evolution of immune escape mutations in Spike as well as fundamental viral adaptation to chronic infection.
This project aims to determine the host and viral factors that drive persistent infection, and their link with leaps of viral evolution using in vivo models. It will involve close collaboration with leading UK virology labs, as part of the Genotype-to-Phenotype 2 (G2P2-UK) Consortium. The successful candidate will be given wide latitude to decide on the exact aim(s), or to drive an independent project within these areas. (Please note that there is a separate position being advertised for molecular-focused work as well.)
Key Responsibilities
Postdoctoral Fellows will lead their own research project(s) and may contribute to other collaborative projects. They are expected to contribute to a positive lab culture, share their expertise, and train other colleagues. Postdoctoral Fellows are expected to take advantage of the training and network opportunities at the Crick, and are encouraged to build their own independence and leadership in research through attendance at consortium meetings, national and international scientific conferences, and applications for competitive fellowships, and to take the lead in managing their own research with collaborators and the Crick’s core facilities.
About us
The Francis Crick Institute is a biomedical discovery institute dedicated to understanding the fundamental biology underlying health and disease. Its work is helping to understand why disease develops and to translate discoveries into new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, infections, and neurodegenerative diseases.
An independent organisation, its founding partners are the Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK, Wellcome, UCL, Imperial College London and King’s College London.
The Crick was formed in 2015, and in 2016 it moved into a new state-of-the-art building in central London which brings together 1500 scientists and support staff working collaboratively across disciplines, making it the biggest biomedical research facility under in one building in Europe.
The Francis Crick Institute will be world-class with a strong national role. Its distinctive vision for excellence includes commitments to collaboration; developing emerging talent and exporting it the rest of the UK; public engagement; and helping turn discoveries into treatments as quickly as possible to improve lives and strengthen the economy.
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