Research Assistant; Maini & Das Lab

Overview

Applications are invited for two Research Assistant positions in the laboratories of Dr. Abhishek Das and Professor Mala Maini. Both groups are part of the Institute of Immunity and Transplantation (IIT), located in the Pears Building within UCL's Division of Infection and Immunity.

The successful candidates will join dynamic, collaborative teams of basic and clinical scientists, contributing to a wide range of research activities and supporting the broader objectives of the groups.

The Institute of Immunity and Transplantation (IIT) is a leading center within UCL's Division of Infection and Immunity, bringing together more than 20 world-class research groups at the forefront of translational immunology. Our work focuses on translating advances in understanding the immune system into improved therapies for patients. Close links with the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust provide an exceptional interface between science and medicine.

For more information about the IIT, please visit:

The Maini Lab investigates adaptive immunity in hepatitis B, liver cancer, and SARS-CoV-2 to inform the development of immunotherapies and vaccines targeting these major causes of global morbidity and mortality. Leveraging well-characterised patient cohorts, human tissue samples, advanced 2D/3D co-culture systems, and mouse models, our research provides critical insights into both protective and dysfunctional T and B cell responses.

A key focus of the lab is the unique tolerogenic environment of liver immunity. We study cellular interactions and metabolic constraints to design novel immunotherapeutic strategies for hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we applied our expertise in circulating and tissue-resident adaptive immunity to generate new insights into SARS-CoV-2 infection, contributing to the development of a pan-coronavirus vaccine.

The successful applicant will collaborate closely with a postdoctoral research associate funded by the same award, a senior research associate, and other members of the Maini and Swadling teams on the development and pre-clinical testing of our novel pan-coronavirus vaccine (see our publications: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). and ). This role will involve coordination with a dynamic network of collaborators, including the Barnes Lab (Oxford) and the Iannacone Lab (Milan).

In addition, the postholder will play a central role in supporting the wider group, particularly in processing valuable clinical samples and assisting postdoctoral researchers working on cutting-edge programmes funded by the Wellcome Trust and CRUK.

The Das Lab focuses on understanding mechanisms of immune dysregulation in bacterial, viral, and fungal infections across paediatric and adult cohorts. We maintain active collaborations with intensive care teams at St Thomas', Royal London, Royal Free, UCL, and Newcastle Hospitals. Through Rosetrees Trust funding, the successful applicant will lead a project applying high-content, high-throughput immunophenotyping (spectral flow cytometry, multiplex ELISAs) to characterise longitudinal immune responses to natural infection and vaccination in neonates and adults with sepsis.

Our aims are two-fold:

• To develop immune-based diagnostic tests for clinical use, improving decision-making in antibiotic de-escalation (see recent work: ).
• To investigate mechanistic relevance of differentially expressed genes and proteins in sepsis pathophysiology, informing immunotherapy design.

For this, we have established autologous human immune cell-liver organoid co-culture systems that allow direct pathway blockade under sepsis-mimicking conditions. The successful applicant may also contribute to this project.

The postholder(s) will provide essential technical support to ensure the smooth operation of the Maini and Das laboratories. Overall supervision will be provided by either Prof Mala Maini or Dr Abhishek Das; however, day-to-day guidance will primarily come from postdoctoral researchers and PhD students within the respective teams.

Key duties and responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Processing and cryopreserving blood and liver samples from human participants promptly and in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Assisting postdoctoral researchers and PhD students with advanced research techniques, including multiparametric flow cytometry, multiplex immunostaining, in vitro cell culture systems, and cell transduction methods.
• Supporting the training of new staff and students (including BSc, MSc, and MRes), teaching standard laboratory protocols, sterile cell culture techniques, database usage, and related procedures.

• A BSc or equivalent qualification in Biochemistry, Immunology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related discipline, or a Technical Assistant degree.
• A sound understanding of Health and Safety regulations.
• Excellent written and verbal…