Research Assistant

Location: Pandemic Science Institute, Institute of Developmental & Regenerative Medicine, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford OX3 7TY

Salary: Research Grade 6: Salary in range £35,681 - £41,636 per annum (pro rata). This is inclusive of a pensionable Oxford University Weighting of £1,730 per year (pro rata) 

We are seeking to appoint a Research Assistant to support the on-going programme of vaccine development against priority pathogens within Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert’s group at the Pandemic Sciences Institute. Our research mainly focuses on optimizing viral-vectored vaccine platforms and developing candidate vaccines against priority pathogens such as MERS-CoV, Nipah, Lassa, and influenza. 

This position offers an opportunity to evaluate the immune response induced by candidate vaccines in pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, and to support the optimization, qualification, and validation of immunoassays, technical transfer of assays to collaborators, and troubleshooting post-transfer.  The role involves handling samples from humans and model species, but will not involve vaccination or sample collection activities. Activities must be performed in compliance with standards expected from good laboratory practice, good clinical practice, and group/trial guidance and trial protocols. 

It is essential that you hold a BSc or equivalent in a relevant subject such as Microbiology, Immunology, Biomedical sciences, Biology, Biochemistry or will achieve this before start date of post together with previous relevant laboratory experience in an academic research lab, or industry or public health research environment. You also must have practical experience with mammalian cell culture and immunological assays such as ELISA and virus or pseudovirus neutralisation assays. It is essential that you can manage your own research and administrative activities, within guidelines provided by senior colleagues. 

Applications for this vacancy should be made online (via the 'Apply' button above) and you will need to upload a supporting statement and CV. Your supporting statement must explain how you meet each of the selection criteria for the post using examples of your skills and experience. Please restrict your documentation to your CV and supporting statement only. Any other documents will be requested at a later date. 

This position is offered full time on a fixed term contract until 31 August 2028 and is funded by CEPI. 

Only applications received before 12 midday on Tuesday 30 June 2026 will be considered. Please quote 186147 on all correspondence.

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