Research Associate in Medical and Molecular Genetics applied to Dermatology

at  Kings College London

Job id: 091927. Salary: £43,205 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.
Posted: 27 June 2024. Closing date: 07 July 2024.
Business unit: Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine. Department: St John’s Institute of Dermatology.
Contact details: Dr Christos Tziotzios. christos.tziotzios@kcl.ac.uk
Location: Guy’s Campus. Category: Research.
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About Us
King’s College London is a world-renowned institution, recognized for its academic excellence and impactful research. The Genetic Skin Disease and Genomics groups at King’s College London are at the forefront of groundbreaking research in dermatology, focusing on understanding the genetic foundations of various skin conditions. Our research has led to significant discoveries, including the identification of novel druggable targets for inflammatory and immune-mediated skin diseases. Located on the historic Guy’s Campus, our team collaborates with leading experts in the field, providing an enriching environment for innovative research and academic growth.
About the role
We are seeking a dedicated and highly skilled Postdoctoral Associate to join our team within the School of Basic and Medical Biosciences at St John’s Institute of Dermatology. The primary focus of this position is to conduct genetic analyses on extreme phenotypes, including lichenoid inflammation, cutaneous polysensitisation, and alopecic traits. The successful candidate will utilize both publicly available and newly generated data to perform comprehensive genetic studies, contributing to the delineation of the genetic architecture of poorly studied dermatoses.
In this role, you will work closely with Dr. Christos Tziotzios and collaborate with eminent professors such as Prof. John McGrath and Prof. Michael Simpson, who are experts in Skin Genetics and Genomics, respectively. Your responsibilities will include genome-wide association studies, basic wet-laboratory techniques such as DNA and RNA isolation and processing, and multi-trait analysis using in-house and public genotypic data.
The Postdoctoral Associate will play a critical role in advancing our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of dermatological conditions. This position is integral to ongoing efforts to uncover the molecular mechanisms driving these conditions, with the ultimate goal of identifying new therapeutic targets. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing and executing genetic analyses, interpreting complex data, and collaborating with a team of leading researchers in the field. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to high-impact research while developing your expertise in a supportive and collaborative environment.
This is a full time post (35 Hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 3rd August 2025.
About you
To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

• A PhD in a relevant area, e.g. molecular dermatology, bioinformatics, life sciences etc.*
• A good track record of research in a relevant area
• Research experience in a genetic medicine project
• Experience of NGS (DNA and RNA-seq) pipelines
• Programming in at least one language (Python, Java, Bash, Perl, R)
• Proficient in Unix-based systems
• Publication record commensurate with grade
• Ability to work independently, without direct supervision
• Good (written and verbal) communication skills
• Biomedical research experience

Desirable criteria

• Research experience in dermatology/follicular science
• Experience in grant writing
• Knowledge and experience with multi-omics data
• 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.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.
Interviews are due to be held on 10/7/2024
We are able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK.
This post is subject to Occupational Health clearances.

Please refer the Job description for details