Postdoctoral Research Associate, School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences

KINGS COLLEGE LONDON; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university in the UK is seeking a postdoctoral scientist to join a multi-disciplinary research group focused on developing gene editing technologies for cardiovascular conditions. The successful candidate will have a strong background in molecular biology and will work with advanced methodologies like CRISPR. The role offers competitive salary and opportunities for publishing research results.

Qualifications

• PhD in relevant biological sciences required.
• Strong expertise in cellular and molecular biology is essential.
• Candidates should have prior experience in gene editing and AAV vector-related work.

Responsibilities

• Develop CRISPR/Cas9 and Prime Editing methods for correcting DNA mutations.
• Work with primary cardiomyocytes and humanized mouse models.
• Publish research in high-impact journals and present at international conferences.

Skills

Expertise in cellular and molecular biology

Past experience in AAV vector-related work

Self-motivated

Experience in animal models of cardiovascular disease

Experience in tissue and organ handling

Knowledge in cardiovascular medicine

Education

PhD in relevant biological sciences

Job description

Organisation/Company: KINGS COLLEGE LONDON

Research Field: Biological sciences

Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2); Established Researcher (R3)

Country: United Kingdom

Application Deadline: 12 Oct 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 Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences (SCMMS) is one of six schools in the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine (FoLSM) at King’s College London. The School drives translation of world-leading basic science into advances in clinical practice in cardiac, vascular and metabolic medicine. The School also hosts activities of the MRC/BHF Centre of Excellence for Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics (REACT) and the BHF Centre of Research Excellence at King’s.

About The Role

Applications are invited for a talented and enthusiastic postdoctoral scientist to join Prof Mauro Giacca’s laboratory at the School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences at King’s College London. The postholder will be part of a vibrant multi-disciplinary research group operating across different research themes in cardiac biology, with the specific aim to develop technologies for gene editing of cardiovascular inherited conditions.

In particular, the post-holder will develop CRISPR/Cas9- and Prime Editing-based methods for the corrections of DNA mutations leading to cardiomyopathy. This work will be performed in primary cardiomyocytes from human iPS cells, human myocardial slices from patients and humanised mouse models with the same mutations as patients, all of which are currently available in the laboratory.

Minimum qualifications are PhD and/or MD with expertise in molecular and cellular biology and prior experience in gene editing, also for different applications. Candidates should be highly motivated individuals with excellent communication skills, and have the ability to work independently. The post holder will have the opportunity to write and publish results of research studies in high impact score peer-reviewed journals and report research results at international conferences.

The post is based within the School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences at the James Black Centre (King’s Denmark Hill campus) as part of the King’s College London BHF Centre of Research Excellence and the MRC/BHF Centre for Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics (REACT). The School and these Centres provide an outstanding highly multidisciplinary environment with state-of-the-art equipment, facilities and technical support for both laboratory work and animal studies.

The post is offered as a 1-year initial contract, with possibility of extension.

About You

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

• PhD in relevant biological sciences
• Strong expertise in cellular and molecular biology
• Past experience in AAV vector-related work
• Self-motivated, ability to work independently
• Experience in animal models of cardiovascular disease
• Experience in tissue and organ handling and processing, including histological analysis
• Knowledge in cardiovascular medicine

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.

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.

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.

Grade and Salary: £45,031 - £46,189 per annum inclusive of London Weighting Allowance

Job ID: 126185

Close Date: 12-Oct-2025

Contact Person: Prof Mauro Giacca

Contact Details: [e-mail]