Research Assistant

Applications are invited for a Research Assistant in the group of Prof Michael Levin within the Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease in the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London. The Group is an internationally recognised, leading research team focused on improving diagnosis, treatment and prevention of severe and life-threatening infections in children.

The successful candidate will be supporting research aimed at biomarker identification and validation on clinical samples from multiple sites within the DIAMONDS consortium (Diagnosis and Management of Febrile Illness using RNA Personalised Molecular Signature Diagnosis Chief Investigator: Prof Mike Levin, https://www.diamonds2020.eu ) that aims to develop a new molecular diagnostic test to provide improved and rapid diagnosis of common infectious and inflammatory diseases. The DIAMONDS study is composed of an international, multi-disciplinary team of researchers and scientists from across 28 institutions and 13 countries.

The position would suit a graduate with a BSc in a relevant field and an MPhil or equivalent experience in a research laboratory. Relevant knowledge and experience in molecular biology, proteomics and immunology, as well as handling and storage of clinical samples is essential. Excellent organisational as well as communication skills are crucial as the post will involve a high degree of teamwork and interdisciplinary research with internal and external collaborators at partner sites within the consortium.In addition to research support, the duties include laboratory administrative responsibilities.

The project will provide experience in a range of laboratory skills, techniques and research applicable to infectious disease as well as experience of working within a large international consortium. This is a full-time, fixed-term post for one year, based at the St Mary’s Campus (Paddington)

Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Shea Hamilton [email protected]

Duties and responsibilities

You will have a varied technical support role within the Group, with responsibility ranging from study sample collation from national and international partners, sample processing (including isolation of nucleic acid for molecular analysis), sample data management to running molecular and protein assays. You will work closely with researchers, with a high degree of teamwork and interdisciplinary research. You will also be expected to support academic activities, including contributing to lab meetings and presentations.

Essential requirements

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with research experience in biological sciences. You should hold a BSc in a relevant discipline and an MPhil or equivalent research experience in a commercial, industrial, or academic setting. Relevant experience in human immunology and molecular biology, as well as handling, storing, and processing of clinical samples is essential. The ideal candidate should be capable of reviewing scientific literature and analysing large datasets using bioinformatic tools and have experience using immunoassays for the discovery and validation of protein biomarkers in human serum/plasma. Excellent organisational and communication skills are required, and experience of collaborating with international scientific researchers is highly desirable. You will also have the ability to follow instructions carefully, have excellent attention to detail, and experience of working as a member of a multi-disciplinary team of researchers.

Further information

This is a Full time, fixed term for 12 months role based at St Mary’s Campus (Paddington).

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