Research Associate

Job description
Job summary

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to join our team of Mathematical Immunologists at Imperial College London under the guidance of Prof Becca Asquith.

You will work on an interdisciplinary project, funded by the Wellcome Trust, which is a collaboration between theorists, clinicians and experimental immunologists. The aim of the project is to understand the fundamental immunobiology of “unconventional” (γδ) T cells in humans.

Your role will be to develop novel models and approaches to analyse and interpret new experimental data using a range of theoretical techniques (including ordinary differential equation modelling, multivariate regression, and frequentist and/or Bayesian parameter inference).

The project

T cell immunology has revolutionised clinical therapeutics. The overwhelming majority of our knowledge of T cells is restricted to classical (“αβ”) T cells, in comparison we know almost nothing about unconventional (“γδ”) T cells: this represents an untapped resource and a huge knowledge gap. This project will investigate how γδ T cells balance production, proliferation, death and differentiation to maintain a functioning, protective population with appropriate T cell receptor repertoire diversity.

Duties and responsibilities

You will be working in a three-way collaboration between Imperial College, University of Birmingham and St Georges. You will help propose hypotheses and perform mathematical modelling of novel experimental data generated by the team. Our ultimate aim is to develop a mechanistic, quantitative understanding of the turnover and maintenance of γδ T cells in humans.

Applicants must have a PhD or equivalent research experience in Mathematical Biology, Mathematics, Physics, Bioinformatics or similar. Previous experience of immunology would be an advantage. A commitment to interdisciplinary science, an interest in modelling experimental data and an enthusiasm for communicating with experts outside your field is essential.

You will be expected to communicate your findings to the community both by publishing in high quality journals and by presentation at international conferences.

Essential requirements

•  Research Associate: Hold a PhD (or equivalent) in Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Bioinformatics or a closely related discipline
• Research Assistant: Near completion of a PhD (or equivalent) in Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Bioinformatics or a closely related discipline
• Experience of modelling experimental data
• Experience in developing stochastic or deterministic mathematical models
• Good working knowledge of one or more programming languages (C++, Perl, R etc)

Further information

This is a full time and fixed term role until April 2026. You will be based at St Mary’s Campus (Paddington).

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as a Research Assistant within the salary range £38,194 – £41,388 per annum.

The College is a proud signatory to the San-Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA),which means that in hiring and promotion decisions, we evaluate applicants on the quality of their work, not the journal impact factor where it is published. For more information, see https://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-evaluation/

The College believes that the use of animals in research is vital to improve human and animal health and welfare. Animals may only be used in research programmes where their use is shown to be necessary for developing new treatments and making medical advances. Imperial is committed to ensuring that, in cases where this research is deemed essential, all animals in the College’s care are treated with full respect, and that all staff involved with this work show due consideration at every level.

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/about-imperial-research/research-integrity/animal-research / 

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