Laboratory Research Scientist

In the Crick's Vinuesa C |Research Group.

Applies specific technical or practical skills and has a well-developed working knowledge of technical or scientific practices and procedures acquired through on-the-job, vocational or academic training. Work will involve the application of skills and knowledge to provide a range of technical support activities.
Deadline for applications has passed.

Key information

Job reference
R444
Salary
Circa £33,500
Applications closed
19 October 2021, 23:59 BST
Hours per week
36 (full time)
Posted 06 October 2021

Reports to:

Carola Vinuesa, Senior Group Leader

Contact term:

This is a full-time, fixed term (12 months) position on Crick terms and conditions of employment which can also be offered as a secondment.

The Research Group and project

Dr Vinuesa’s laboratory focuses on understanding the regulation of protective antibody responses and the mechanisms underpinning antibody-mediated diseases. The research aims to unravel the pathogenesis of autoimmune and allergic diseases, and the processes that control the quality of antibody responses. The ultimate goal is to improve the outcomes of patients with autoimmune disorders (AID) with a particular focus on systemic autoimmune diseases like lupus.

Role

The Vinuesa laboratory is seeking a highly motivated research scientist to help set up a new laboratory at the Crick that will welcome a multidisciplinary team. This will involve setting up a variety of projects in humans and mice, that will require a broad range of in vitro and in vivo techniques. Given the inter-disciplinary nature of our work the applicant needs to be exceptionally organised, dynamic, an excellent team-player and able to adapt to emerging needs of our research programme.

This position is for a fixed-term Laboratory Research Scientist (LRS) to help establish the laboratory led by Vinuesa. The postholder will provide support with establishing a laboratory that seeks to understand immune responses by using a range of in vivo model and in vitro tools. In addition to general tasks in organising the laboratory infrastructure, the LRS is expected to implement immune phenotyping, molecular and cell biology workflows in the laboratory, including cloning and mutagenesis protocols and cell culture experiments. The Start-up LRS will work closely with the senior LRS, the hub team and their quadrant manager to ensure smooth integration of the group at the Crick. Suitable candidates should have a strong background in molecular and cell biology, biochemistry or related fields.

Key responsibilities

These include but are not limited to:

  • Initial establishment of the Vinuesa lab infrastructure: equipment, workspace, procurement etc.
  • Coordinating lab set-up with the relevant quadrant manager
  • Coordinating mouse genotyping with BRF
  • Collection of mouse organs and tissues
  • Flow cytometry for cellular phenotyping experiments
  • Management of lab, instruments and supplies on a daily basis
  • Establishment of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for common experiments and equipment use
  • Cataloguing bacterial strains, plasmids, and cell lines
  • Cloning, site-directed mutagenesis and luciferase assays
  • Cell culture, including cell labelling workflows, transfection of cell lines
  • Training new lab members in SOPs
  • Encouragement of a positive, motivating lab atmosphere

Key experience and competencies

The post holder should embody and demonstrate our core Crick values: bold, imaginative, open, dynamic and collegial, in addition to the following:

Essential

  • Higher education degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, or similar
  • Experience in molecular biology (cloning, real time PCR) and protein biochemistry (e.g. Western blots)
  • Experience in mammalian cell culture
  • Experience in handling mice
  • Motivation to perform cutting-edge science using chemical tools to understand biology
  • Strong skills in organising and thorough record-keeping
  • Strong collaborative ability and teamwork experience

Desirable

  • Experience in flow cytometry
  • Experience in collecting mouse organs