Research Fellow - Department of Inflammation and Ageing - 106184 - Grade 7

University of Birmingham; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in the UK seeks a Research Fellow to join the MRC BioFlare research programme. The role involves advanced analysis of tissue studies related to rheumatoid arthritis and collaboration with institutions like Newcastle and Harvard. Candidates should hold a first class degree in biological sciences and have extensive experience with RNAseq data. This full-time position is fixed term until September 2026.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience and fluency in analysis of single cell RNAseq data.
• Hands on experience of dealing with 10x Xenium spatial transcriptomic data.

Responsibilities

• Develop research objectives and proposals for further BioFlare research.
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding.
• Analyse and interpret research findings from tissue studies.

Skills

Analytical capability

Communication of complex information

Experience in cell phenotyping

Knowledge of informatic environments including R

Experience in single cell RNAseq analysis

Experience in spatial analytic techniques

Experience with 10x Xenium spatial transcriptomic data

Knowledge of the Equality Act 2010

Education

First class degree in a biological science subject

Job description

Position Details

Department of Inflammation and Ageing, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822

Grade: 7

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to September 2026

Closing date: 21st August 2025

Background

To create and contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking advanced analysis and validation experiments within the MRC BioFlare research programme:

Although outcomes in RA have been improved by the introduction of targeted therapies, disease flare occurs in approximately 50% of patients, negatively impacting quality of life and cumulative joint damage. Understanding of synovial mechanisms underlying flare is only just starting to emerge thanks to well-designed RACE studies. BioFlare was designed to use conventional DMARD withdrawal from patients in clinical remission as a model of flare vs remission with a 50% relapse rate.

Initial data analysis has taken place using the 10x Chromium single cell sequencing identifying putative cellular subpopulations that determine remission or activity, including candidate T lymphocyte subpopulations that may play roles in driving inflammation.

Although identifying disaggregated subpopulations of cells using RNAseq enhances our ability to recognise subpopulations, cell clustering alone provides limited functional data. Integrating transcriptomic with spatial data indicating proximity of neighbourhood populations can deliver a step change in understanding of disease mechanisms. In collaboration with Newcastle, IMC has been used to generate high plex proteomic data, while in Birmingham 5000plex Xenium spatial transcriptomic data have been generated.

Application of these technologies will enable the Research Fellow:

• To identify measurable synovial tissue cellular/molecular parameters that predict flare amongst RA patients stopping csDMARDs for validation in downstream prospective studies; and
• To delineate specific pathobiological pathways whose induction in tissue heralds RA flare, building on recent insights that inform understanding of disease pathogenesis.
• To validate mechanistic hypotheses using in vitro techniques as necessary
• To publish research findings in high impact journals

Role Summary

• Work withinthe MRC BioFlare research programme
• Analyse and interpret research findings from tissue studies inthe BioFlare programme
• Contribute to generating funding by writing small grants and contribute to writing bids
• Collaborate with existing (Newcastle, Glasgow, Oxford) and new (Harvard, Stanford) partners to fully exploit the potential of the tissue data from BioFlare
• Publish findings in high impact journals on behalf of the BioFlare consortium

Main Duties

The responsibilities will include:

• Develop research objectives and proposals for further BioFlare research, with assistance of a mentor if required
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Complete analysis and integration of single cell RNAseq, hyperion IMC and Spatial transcriptomic data and interpret
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
• Promote equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding

Person Specification

• First class degree in a biological science subject
• High level analytical capability
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Full working knowledge of informatic environments including R
• Extensive experience and fluency in analysis of single cell RNAseq data
• Extensive experience of spatial analytic techniques including segmentation, annotation and clustering
• Hands on experience of dealing with 10x Xenium spatial transcriptomic data
• Experience of working in industry
• Experience of cell phenotyping, cytometry and cell sorting techniques including FACS, MACS and flow cytometry
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly

Further particulars can be foundhere

Informal enquiries to Andrew Filer, email: [e-mail]

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