Post-doctoral Research Associate, Department of Infectious Diseases

European Commission; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK university is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to explore immune evasion mechanisms in SARS-CoV-2. The successful candidate will have a PhD in a relevant field and experience with viral pathogens. This full-time role offers a salary of £44,355 per annum and involves utilizing advanced molecular techniques in infectious disease research.

Qualifications

• Track record of publication or clear potential for publication in leading biomedical journals.
• Extensive experience in major molecular biology and cell biology techniques.
• Ability to work collegially within a team and with external collaborators.

Responsibilities

• Design, conduct, and analyze experimental research on immune evasion mechanisms.
• Focus on viruses isolated from immunocompromised individuals.
• Utilize nanopore-based sequencing and reverse genetics in research.

Skills

Experience with pathogens (ideally viruses)

Excellent written and presentational skills

Ability to design and analyze experiments

Education

PhD in virology, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, or cell biology

Tools

Nanopore-based sequencing

RT-qPCR

Job description

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Organisation/Company KINGS COLLEGE LONDON Research Field Biological sciences Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Established Researcher (R3) Country United Kingdom Application Deadline 11 Aug 2025 - 00:00 (UTC) Type of Contract Other Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

About Us

The School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences at King’s College London (KCL), along with its Department of Infectious Diseases, enjoys international acclaim for employing a wide range of methodologies to investigate infectious diseases and promote health and well-being. The School and Department are home to leading experts in immunology, pathogen molecular biology, and host-pathogen interactions, bringing together extensive knowledge, skills, and experience. Located on the Guy’s campus, the Department benefits from close ties with clinical teams at the neighbouring Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust.

The Galao lab, also situated on the Guy’s campus, has access to fully supported facilities for tissue culture, microscopy, flow cytometry, and molecular biology, all of which will be utilized in the proposed project.

The Galao lab focuses on understanding how RNA viruses interact with the host immune system, with particular attention to mechanisms by which viruses like SARS-CoV-2 are countered by host defences and how they evolve strategies to evade immune detection. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rui-Galao

About the role

We are seeking a talented and highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) to join the laboratory of Dr Rui Galão in the Department of Infectious Diseases at King’s College London. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing, conducting, analysing, and presenting experimental research focused on characterising the evolution of immune evasion mechanisms in SARS-CoV-2. This work will concentrate on viruses isolated from immunocompromised individuals with long-term persistent infections, as well as on newly emerging variants of concern (VOCs).

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate that has obtained (or will obtain soon) a PhD in a relevant subject (i.e. virology, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, cell biology). Experience working with pathogens (ideally viruses) and/or host immunity is essential.

The lab uses a combination of molecular techniques (e.g. nanopore-based sequencing, reverse genetics, immunoblotting, luciferase-based assays, RT-qPCR, microscopy) to study virus evolution and innate/adaptive immunity in the context of viral infection. Prior experience in some of these techniques is desirable.

Research in the Galão lab explores diverse aspects of RNA virus–host interactions, with a particular emphasis on the immune response to viral infection. Our recent efforts have focused on understanding how SARS-CoV-2 evolves in immunocompromised hosts and how these adaptations enable the virus to evade both innate and adaptive immune defences. We aim to uncover the evolutionary processes contributing to the emergence and transmission of VOCs.

Gaining insight into these mechanisms is crucial for informing the development of both improved and novel therapeutic strategies, and for anticipating the evolutionary trajectories of other viruses with pandemic potential.

Our current research programme is structured around three central themes. To address these, we employ whole-genome sequencing, viral isolates from individuals with chronic infections, and reverse genetics systems as key investigative tools:

• How does SARS-CoV-2 continue to adapt and develop new strategies for immune evasion during prolonged infections?
• What are the molecular determinants that regulate the activity of viral immune antagonists?
• Detection of emerging VOCs, and initial characterisation of their capacity to evade host immune responses.

This is a full time (35 hours per week), and you will be offered an a fixed term contract until 31 January 2027.

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

• PhD in a relevant subject area (i.e. virology, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, cell biology) *
• Track record of publication or clear potential for publication in leading biomedical journals
• Extensive experience in major molecular biology, biochemistry and cell biology techniques
• Experience working with pathogens (ideally viruses) and/or innate immunity
• Excellent written and presentational skills
• Ability to work collegially within a team and with external collaborators
• Ability to independently design, implement and analyse experiments

*Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

• Experience in working under BSL3 conditions
• Experience in handling and the molecular manipulation of SARS-CoV-2 (or related viruses) and/or reverse genetics systems
• Performing and analysing nanopore-based sequencing
• Experience in both performing and the bioinformatic analyses of datasets from genetics/transcriptomics experiments

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

Further Information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.

As part of this commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process, it is our aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit ’ pages.

This post is subject to Occupational Health clearance.

Grade and Salary:£44,355 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance

Job ID:121085

Close Date:11-Aug-2025

Contact Person:Dr Rui Pedro Galao

Contact Details:[e-mail]