Research Assistant LAB - Genomics

at  Kings College London

Job id: 103745. Salary: £38,232 - £38,882 per annum inclusive of London Weighting Allowance.
Posted: 09 January 2025. Closing date: 06 February 2025.
Business unit: IoPPN. Department: Social, Genetic & Dev Psychiatry.
Contact details: Sang-Hyuck Lee. sang_hyuck.lee@kcl.ac.uk
Location: Denmarkj Hill Campus. Category: Research.
About Us
We are seeking a highly motivated Research Assistant to join our Lab within the SGDP Centre, a groundbreaking initiative led by King’s College London and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. You will be based in the KCL Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, within the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN). These centres offer a diverse research environment that is open, welcoming and supportive to all. The faculty-wide initiatives are supported by an active Diversity & Inclusion Team. To help us achieve our goals, we particularly welcome applications from people from backgrounds who are currently under-represented in UK Higher Education (E.g. Black, Asian, Latinx, and other white ethnic minorities).
About The Role
This position provides an exciting opportunity to work in a dynamic research group focusing on a large-scale, cutting-edge project involving Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing (LRS) technologies. The primary aim of the project is to sequence 22,000 samples using high-throughput automation pipelines. As part of the LRS team, you will work on the development, optimisation, and execution of sequencing workflows, contributing to innovative studies of psychiatric and other complex disorders.
The postholder will be responsible for operating and maintaining high-throughput automated laboratory equipment, including Hamilton STAR, FastPrep, DreamPrep, and PromethIONs, to ensure seamless DNA library preparation, quality control, normalisation, and sequencing. You will perform quality control checks on sequencing data, ensuring data accuracy and resolving technical issues as they arise. The role also involves collaborating with multidisciplinary team members to ensure timely and high-quality data production for ongoing projects.
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong technical skills in molecular biology, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to work effectively within a team environment. Prior experience with Oxford Nanopore sequencing and automation platforms is highly desirable. This is a full-time post available from 1st January 2025, and you will be offered a fixed-term contract until 30th November 2025, which can be extendable.
This role provides an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in advanced sequencing technologies while contributing to impactful research.
About You

Essential criteria

• A bachelor’s degree in molecular biology, genetics, biotechnology, biochemistry, or a related field.
• Knowledge of DNA/RNA processing techniques.
• Conducting quality control and troubleshooting to maintain data integrity.
• Preparing DNA libraries for sequencing.
• Managing and optimising robotic workflows for high-throughput operations.
• Contributing to reports and documentation of pipeline performance.
• Knowledge of molecular biology and molecular genetics.
• At least 1-2 years’ experience of working in a research laboratory.

Desirable criteria

• A master’s degree in molecular biology, genetics, biotechnology, biochemistry, or a related field, particularly with a focus on sequencing technologies.
• Experience with genomic data on Linux and R.
• Experience with LIMS.
• Experience of working on high-throughput projects and familiarity with Hamilton and TeCAN automation pipelines.
• Ability to work well in a team environment as well as independently.

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.
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. Interview dates to be confirmed We are able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK

Please refer the Job description for details