Research Associate

King's College London; Greater London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in higher education is seeking a Research Associate to join its dynamic team focused on genetic epidemiology. This role offers a unique opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research on the genetic factors influencing chronic conditions, utilizing advanced multi-omic analyses. Candidates will collaborate with leading experts and contribute to impactful projects, enhancing their research skills in a supportive environment. If you're passionate about genetics and eager to make a difference in public health, this role is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• PhD in genetic epidemiology or related field required.
• Experience in manuscript writing and bioinformatics analysis.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent research on genetic epidemiology of back pain and hearing loss.
• Support research activities and supervise students.

Skills

Genetic Epidemiology

Bioinformatics Analysis

Problem-solving Skills

Teamwork Experience

Organizational Skills

Education

PhD in Genetic Epidemiology

Knowledge of Genomic Epidemiology

Tools

Multi-Omics Analysis

Statistical Genetics

Job description

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King's College London provided pay range

This range is provided by King's College London. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

About Us

The role is situated in the Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology at King's College London, part of the School of Life Course and Population Sciences within the Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine. The department focuses on cohorts including TwinsUK to better understand the genetic and environmental factors influencing health and disease. Its extensive research portfolio covers genetics, epigenetics, and environmental impacts—such as lifestyle and diet—on complex conditions like chronic pain, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and osteoporosis. The department also delves into ageing and the microbiome's role in health, contributing significantly to genetic epidemiology and public health. Strong collaborations within KCL and with national and international partners further amplify the department's research impact and reach.

About the role

This post will work on the genetic epidemiology of back pain, intervertebral disc degeneration, and hearing loss, supporting the research activities of Prof Frances Williams (PI, Dept of Twin Research, School of Life Course Sciences). We are increasingly moving to multi-omic analysis of microbiome and metabolites to understand their relationship with chronic complex traits. The use of two-sample Mendelian randomisation is allowing us to define the risk factors causing common complex conditions and how they interact with host genetics.

There will be opportunities to work on data from cohorts including TwinsUK and UK Biobank. The applicant should be familiar with genetic epidemiology, including heritability studies, GWAS, and multi-omic modelling.

Additional opportunities include engaging in other projects involving deeply phenotyped cohorts, genomics research, and age-related diseases, especially chronic pain and hearing loss.

Applicants should be able to conduct independent research, supervise students, and possess broad knowledge of genetic epidemiology and research methods. The environment is supportive for early- and mid-career researchers, and teamwork skills are essential.

This is a full-time (35 hours/week) fixed-term contract until 30/09/2026.

About You

Successful candidates will have:

• A PhD in genetic epidemiology, microbiome/metagenome, or genetics *
• Knowledge of genomic epidemiology or statistical genetics
• Experience in manuscript writing
• Bioinformatics analysis skills, including microbiome data analysis
• Organizational and systematic research approach
• Problem-solving skills
• Teamwork experience
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines

* Candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting PhD award will be considered. The appointment will initially be at Grade 5, spine point 30, with the title of Research Assistant. Upon PhD confirmation, the job title will change to Research Associate with an increased salary at Grade 6.

• Experience with multi-omics
• Participation in conferences, presentations, and posters
• Good publication record

Seniority level

• Associate

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Research

Industries

• Higher Education