Research Associate

About Us

The focus of the Köchl lab is to study immune cell signalling in response to TCR and chemokine receptor triggering, and biomechanical cues from the tissue environment. Particularly we are interested in understanding how immune cell migration, immune synapse formation and target cell elimination is regulated. 

About the role

We are looking to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate on a 3-year contract, starting as soon as possible.

Human health faces constant challenges from environmental insults like infections, cancer, and tissue damage, with the immune system playing a key role in responding to these threats.

It has become evident that immune responses are not only shaped by ligand-receptor interactions but also by biomechanical cues from the tissue environment. For example, tumour tissues, can be significantly stiffer and experience higher 3D compression forces, thereby influencing signalling in both tumour and immune cells. While tissue mechanics are recognised as important for tumour biology, their impact on immune cells like cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) or macrophages is less understood.

In this project we will study the effect of tissue mechanics and osmotics on embedded immune cells using a strategic combination of in vitro and in/ex vivo assays. Particularly we are interested in understanding how these tissue parameters affect immune cell signalling and gene expression in response to antigen or chemokine receptor triggering and if we can exploit these pathways to increase the mechanical fitness of CAR T cells.

This project is a close collaboration with the Fritzsche lab at the Kennedy Institute in Oxford. The successful candidate will be based at King’s College London but closely work together with the Frizsche lab. Extensive experience in mouse work, cell biology, signalling techniques and biomechanics are essential. This includes super-resolution microscopy approaches, and an ability to analyse complex data sets.

This is a full time role (35 hours per annum), and you will be offered a fixed term contract for 3 years.

Interested candidates are encouraged to reach out to: Robert.Koechl@kcl.ac.uk

Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the  Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the  Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.

About You

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills & experience:

Essential criteria

• PhD qualified in relevant subject area (Immunology, Biophysics, Biochemistry, etc) *
• Expertise in biomechanics, both the theory and methods
• Expertise in T cell biology, immunology, cancer biology
• Expertise in cell biology and studying cell signaling
• Expertise in Microscopy and Bioimage analysis of fluorescence microscopy images
• Ability to manage own academic research and associated activities and present your research internally and externally
• Ability to contribute ideas for new research projects and research income generation
• Work proactively and well with colleagues and collaborators

* 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.

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