PhD Studentship - Seasonal Influenza

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency; Little Heath; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK health regulatory agency is seeking candidates for a PhD project focusing on respiratory viruses. The role involves generating mRNA and proteins, immunising alpacas for nanobody recovery, and characterising nanobodies for therapeutic potential. Applicants should have a first-class BSc in a relevant field and demonstrate effective communication and project management skills. The position offers a unique research experience at a government facility, with generous annual leave and benefits.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Occupational Sick Pay

Flexible working arrangements

Interest-free season ticket loan

Qualifications

• To undertake research in line with project aims and objectives.
• Experience communicating effectively in both oral and written forms.
• Ability to work collaboratively with supervisors and peers.

Responsibilities

• Generate mRNA and proteins for pre‑F from RSV and hMPV.
• Immunise alpacas to recover nanobodies.
• Characterise isolated nanobodies for binding and neutralisation.

Skills

Communication skills

Project management

Knowledge of virology

Experimental design

Education

First-class BSc in Life Sciences or related discipline

Master’s degree in immunology or related field (desirable)

Job description

Overview

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) causes significant disease burden, particularly in the very young and the very old. Recently there has been progress in preventing this virus, with the licensing of three vaccines and two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs Nirsevimab (Beyfortus) and Clesrovimab (MK-1654)). The success or failure of both antibodies and vaccines for RSV depends upon virus evolution and escape; this will particularly impact monoclonal antibodies. Another concern is that RSV immunisation may cause replacement of its ecological niche by the related winter virus human metapneumovirus (hMPV), itself a high priority amongst vaccine developers. An estimated 473,000 hMPV-associated hospitalisations occur globally, of which 185,000 were in high‑income countries.

Hypothesis: Nanobodies that are cross‑neutralising for RSV and hMPV can be generated.

Responsibilities

• Generation of mRNA and proteins for pre‑F from RSV and hMPV for immunisation.
  • Based on the design of stabilised RSV pre‑fusion F protein constructs and matching RNA vaccines developed by the Tregoning lab, the student will generate matching hMPV proteins and constructs.
• Immunisation of alpacas to recover nanobodies.
  • Nanobody libraries will be generated from the immunised alpacas and appropriate selection strategies will be developed and employed to isolate cross‑reactive nanobodies binding F protein of RSV and hMPV.
• Characterisation of nanobodies.
  • Isolated nanobodies will be expressed in bacteria and characterised for binding (e.g., by ELISA or surface plasmon resonance). Their ability to neutralise RSV and hMPV will be assessed.
• Identification of escape mutants.
  • Using classical virology techniques, RSV and hMPV viruses will be selected that escape neutralisation by the lead nanobodies. Escape mutants will be sequenced, thereby providing information about the epitopes recognised by the nanobodies.
  • The student will also model, using computational approaches, the identified amino acid changes on the respective F proteins, enhancing our knowledge about mutational tolerance of the F protein and the nanobody‑binding interface.
• Testing of nanobodies in vivo as potential therapeutic agents.
  • Using well established RSV challenge models, the student will explore protection against infection. This will be performed both prophylactically and therapeutically.

Project description

This is a multi‑disciplinary project involving virology, biochemistry and molecular biology. About MHRA The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care in the United Kingdom, ensuring that healthcare products meet safety standards and contribute to public health through the effective regulation of medicines and medical devices, underpinned by science and research.

About S&R The Science and Research (S&R) function is an operational group of the MHRA based at a state‑of‑the‑art scientific facility in South Mimms Hertfordshire. We are a global leader in the characterisation, standardisation and control of biological medicines with the objective to deliver public health impact via world‑leading science, research and innovation. The successful candidate will have the unique experience of undertaking the PhD research at a government facility.

The Influenza Resource Centre (IRC) within the Vaccines team is responsible for the research and development that underpins the selection of influenza candidate vaccine viruses, vaccine potency assay reagents and influenza vaccine control testing and has been involved in the standardisation of RSV serology assays. The Biotherapeutics and Advanced therapies team is responsible for the safety and efficacy of biotherapeutic medicines. Professor Tregoning's research group is based in the Department of Infectious Disease at the South Kensington campus of Imperial.

Awarding Institution The successful candidate will be registered with the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London, one of the UK's top research Universities. Research in the department spans both viral and bacterial pathogens, exploring fundamental biology as well as developing vaccines, antibodies and therapeutics.

Eligibility & Qualifications

• To undertake the research projects in line with the project aims.
• To communicate effectively, orally and through written media, undertake presentations at scientific meetings and maintain excellent records.
• To interact regularly and effectively with your supervisors and interact appropriately and effectively with other staff.
• To meet the expectations of the study for a PhD by the awarding body (university).
• UK nationals, nationals of the Republic of Ireland, nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK, nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS), nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS), individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020, Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service.
• Applicants must hold (or obtain by October 2026) a first‑class BSc degree or a 2:1 (or international equivalent) in a Life Sciences or health‑related discipline. A Master’s degree in immunology or a related field is desirable or equivalent research experience. Prior experience in bioinformatics is desirable but not essential. Applicants must also meet Imperial College's English language requirements.

Benefits

• Annual Leave: 25 days annual leave on entry, rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro‑rata for part‑time staff. PLUS 8 bank holidays.
• Privilege Leave: 1 day.
• Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full‑time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro‑rata for part‑time staff.
• Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): One month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months full pay/five months half pay.
• Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allowing staff to be mobile across the Civil Service.
• Flexible working to ensure staff maintain a healthy work‑life balance.
• Interest‑free season ticket loan or bike loan.
• Employee Assistance Services and access to the Civil Service Benevolent Fund.
• Eligibility to join the Civil Service Motoring Association (CSMA).
• Variety of staff and Civil Service clubs.
• On‑going learning and development.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.