Research Associate/Research Fellow in Stem Cell Biology

at  Kings College London

Job id: 084985. Salary: £43,205 - £50,585 per annum for Research Associate or £51,974 - £53,350 per annum for Research Fellow, including London Weighting Allowance.
Posted: 23 February 2024. Closing date: 24 March 2024.
Business unit: Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine. Department: SCMMS Guys.
Contact details: Professor Shanta Persaud. shanta.persaud@kcl.ac.uk
Location: Guy’s Campus. Category: Research.
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Job description
Applications are invited for a four-year Post-Doctoral Research Associate/Research Fellow position working on a project funded by the Steve Morgan Foundation entitled ‘Towards translation: improving the functional survival of stem cell-derived beta cells’. The successful applicant will work under the supervision of Prof. Shanta Persaud, Dr. Aileen King and Prof. Peter Jones in the Diabetes Theme within the School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences at King’s College London. The project will use information from our spatial transcriptomic analysis of human fetal pancreas development to improve the generation of functional stem cell-derived beta cells, and then apply our expertise in beta cell/islet biology to ensure the optimal performance of stem cell-derived islets in vitro and in vivo. We are appointing two post-doctoral researchers and two research assistants to this project.
The successful candidate will have a PhD in a relevant biomedical sciences subject and have expertise in human stem cell (ES or iPS) differentiation protocols, preferably to beta cells. The main responsibilities will be human stem cell culture and differentiation to beta cells; assessing the potential of Schwann cells and their secretory products to improve stem cell-derived beta cell maturation; configuring stem cell-derived beta cells into functional islet-like structures; and scRNA analysis of stem cell-derived islets. This post-doctoral associate/research fellow post will be held within a vibrant islet biology research community at the Guy’s campus of King’s College London and it will be supported by a research assistant, appointed to start at the same time.
Further information about ongoing islet biology research in the Department of Diabetes at King’s College London may be found here: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/islet-biology. Specific queries relating to the post can be directed to shanta.persaud@kcl.ac.uk.
This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract, with proposed employment dates of 01/06/2024-31/05/2027.
This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent.
Key responsibilities
Undertake laboratory research to achieve the project objectives.
Liaise with external collaborators as required.
Keep accurate written and electronic records of all work undertaken.
Analyse data, carry out statistical analyses and provide supervisors with regular updates.
Liaise regularly with the project supervisors to ensure that timelines and milestones are met.
Integrate within the wider Department of Diabetes at King’s College London.
Supervise MSc &BSc students and lab visitors where required.
Present work at national and international conferences, and to the Patient and Public Involvement Steering Group.
Contribute to writing and submitting manuscripts based on the research carried out.
The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.
Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria, grades 6 and 7

• PhD in a relevant biomedical sciences subject.
• Post-doctoral research experience in a molecular cell biology discipline.
• Human cell culture.
• Human stem cell differentiation protocols, preferably to beta cells.
• General molecular cell biology techniques, including qRT-PCR, scRNAseq, immunohistochemistry, immunoassays, proteomics.

Essential criteria, grade 7

• Active participation in the planning of research projects.
• Ability to co-ordinate the work of other staff and students.

Desirable criteria, grades 6 and 7

• Experience with functional analysis of islets of Langerhans.

Desirable criteria, grade 7

• Ability to obtain research funding (directly or indirectly).
• 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.
• Appointment at Grade 7 will be conditional on candidates fulfilling the criteria for appointment at this level, so we encourage applicants to address this in their application.

Further information
Interviews will be held in March. Candidates will be notified at least 5 days prior to the interview if they have been shortlisted. We would like the successful candidate to start on 01 June 2024.
This post is subject toOccupational Health clearance.

Please refer the Job description for details