Research Assistant

About Us

We are seeking a research assistant to join the laboratory of Tanya Shaw within the School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, in the Centre for Inflammation Biology & Cancer Immunology on the Guy’s Campus at King’s College London.

Our team is focused on understanding skin development, health, and wound repair/scarring (particularly keloids). We take a collaborative approach, working with scientists with diverse expertise, clinicians and lived experience partners.

The ultimate aim of this research is to discover strategies to improve healing outcomes, with treatments (or cures) for keloid scars.

About the role

As a successful candidate, your role would involve working closely with researchers within and beyond King’s on a project involving in vitro modelling of keloids, and investigations of how/why they have specific fibrotic characteristics. We strive to design a small-scale pharmacological screen to understand the mechanisms underpinning the disease.

You would process primary human tissue samples or work with cells from our established bank to model the aspects of the fibrotic tissue. You would characterize the models using imaging/histology and standard molecular biology techniques and take genetic and/or pharmacological approaches to manipulate. It is therefore essential that you have experience working with human samples and the ethical considerations that such research entails.

You would join a vibrant and welcoming, collaborative work environment. This is a full-time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 31 December 2027.  

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 and experience:

Essential criteria

1. MSc  in Biomedical Sciences or related disciplines
2. Experience with primary human cell culture, molecular biology
3. Ability to work independently in the design and execution of experiments
4. Excellent time management and record keeping skills
5. Strong interpersonal skills, enabling you to work within our friendly and welcoming team and interact with collaborators
6. Experience with data analysis, statistical knowledge
7. Ability to present scientific research in the form of manuscripts, posters and oral presentations

Desirable criteria

1. Experience with Human Tissue Act regulations; conducting studies with human tissue

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