Research Fellow

Job title:

Research Fellow

Company

University College London

Job description

About usApplications are invited for a Post Doctoral Research Fellow position in the UCL Division of Infection and Immunity in a research team led by Professor Greg Towers. The post is funded by a Wellcome Investigator Award to Professor Towers. We aim to study all aspects of the molecular biology of pathogen sensing and its evasion using HIV, SARS-CoV2 and related viruses as model systems. This project aims to understand the role of the HIV capsid in enabling the virus to escape innate immune sensing by shielding viral DNA from cytosolic sensors and nucleases. We will investigate how this differs between pandemic and non-pandemic lineages of HIV. We hope to understand how sequential interactions with host cofactors such as Sec24C, Nup153, CPSF6 and IP6 regulate capsid uncoating using interdisciptlinary approaches including biochemical and lentiviral infection assays.See https://www.ucl.ac.uk/towers-lab for further background information.About the roleWe are particularly interested in using computational approaches to investigate how these interactions alter capsid dynamics. With our chemistry collaborators at UCL WIBR, we will design and characterise small molecule capsid inhibitors which target the FG binding site bound by first-in-class capsid inhibitor lenacapavir and novel sites such as the 3-fold and 6-fold symmetry axes, and use these to probe capsid function.Applicants with expertise in cell and molecular virology and chemical biology will be particularly welcomed. Our team currently comprises an interdisciplinary team of molecular virologists, mathematicians, immunologists, chemists and structural biologists. The post-holder will be expected to perform the highest quality research under the direction of the Principal Investigator, and to work effectively with group members and external collaborators. The position will suit a recent PhD graduate who wishes to develop their career through applications for independent fellowships.About youThe postholder should have a PhD (or about to be awarded) in molecular virology. The successful candidates must have significant experience of working in a research laboratory. Evidence of scientific contribution, for example, publications or presentation at conferences is also essential. Candidates must have excellent oral and written scientific communications skills, commitment to collaboration in research and to taking a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving. Ideally they should have experience in molecular virology, biochemistry and antiviral drug discovery.Please see the attached job description and person specification for full details. Please also read the attached Candidate Guidance document.All applications must include a supporting statement, telling us, using examples, how you meet the essential criteria listed in the job description. Applications without a supporting statement will be rejected.If you have any queries about the role or application process, technical issues, or need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online, please contact the staffing team atNote: Appointment at grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, the initial appointment will be at research assistant Grade 6B, with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis.What we offerAs well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below: 41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days) Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE) Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan On-Site nursery On-site gym Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service Discounted medical insuranceOur commitment to Equality, Diversity and InclusionAs London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here : https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/Available documents

Expected salary

Location

North West London

Job date

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 00:44:40 GMT

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