Postdoctoral Research Associate in Virology

Type of position and location: on- site South Kensington campus

About the role:

The Martin-Sancho lab is recruiting a talented and motivated postdoctoral researcher to study early host defences against mosquito-borne and other emergent viruses.

What you would be doing: The position is funded by the ERC Starting Grant and aims to characterize a novel array of antiviral pathways recently discovered by the lab, initially on dengue and other mosquito-borne viruses. The project will leverage a wide array of approaches including molecular virology, systems biology, functional screening (siRNA and CRISPR), and biochemistry. Experiments will be conducted in CL2 and CL3 laboratory settings. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to foundational antiviral immunity research, leveraging advanced tools to uncover new immune mechanisms and inform future therapeutic strategies.

What we are looking for: The ideal applicant is highly motivated, passionate about science and works well in a team. You will be expected to drive the project and perform the highest quality research under the guidance of Dr. Martin-Sancho, as well as supervise other researchers in the lab.

Essential requirements:

• A PhD in virology

*Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as a Research Assistant within the salary range £43,863 - £47,223 per annum

• Expertise with virus infections in CL2 conditions
• Expertise with molecular biology, molecular virology, and biochemistry
• Experience with cell culture of mammalian cells
• Evidence of making significant scientific contributions in the field of virology, including scientific publication and/or presentations at conferences
• Excellent critical and analytical thinking skills
• Able to independently design and execute experiments, interpret data and identify follow-up strategies
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to interface with the team and collaborators
• To have a highly motivated and detailed-oriented approach

Preferred requirements:

• Experience with analysis of OMICs and other large datasets
• Experience with mammalian primary cells
• Experience with siRNA assays and high throughput screening
• Experience with virus infections in CL3 conditions

What we can offer you:

You will join the Martin-Sancho lab (www.martin-sancholab.com) a dynamic and collaborative team at Imperial College London using systems biology to dissect virus-host conflicts and mechanisms of viral disease. Our network includes leading international virology partners, and we place a strong emphasis on scientific growth, collaboration, and career development.

Further Information

This position will be full-time for an initial two years, with funding available for a possible further three years depending on the project progress.

Interviews will take place in early August 2026.

If you require any further details about the role, please contact: laura.martin-sancho@imperial.ac.uk

About Imperial

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