Research Assistant

The Department of Chemical Engineering is seeking a Research Assistant to work on the development of biosensors based on intein-mediated protein logic in cell-free systems. The post is funded by the UKRI associated with a Marie Sklodowska Curie Action Doctoral Network.  The specific role for this post is to develop biosensors using inteins to compute combinations of signals to enable more sophisticated response.  The biosensors will be deployed in cell-free systems in association with project partners in the consortium.

This is an excellent opportunity to work on a challenging research project at a leading academic institution, within an EU network, and develop multidisciplinary research and leadership skills. To comply with funding conditions, applicants must not have a PhD and must have fewer than 4 years research experience. At the time of selection, applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work or studies) in the UK for more than 12 months in the past three years. The successful candidate will be expected to register for PhD at Imperial College.

Duties and responsibilities

You will develop a bioinformatics pipeline for the identification of novel biosensor elements for antibacterial peptides.  The pipeline will incorporate various bioinformatics tools and protein structure prediction programmes to model the structure of response elements. Selected elements will be used to create novel biosensors to be implemented in cell-free systems.  Working with other members of the consortium, you will integrate these into biosensors for real-world applications.  As part of this, you will measure key characteristics such as signal-to-noise ratio, limit of detection and response time.

Essential requirements

The following essential knowledge, skills & experience are sought:

• MRes, MSc, or equivalent in biological sciences, molecular biology, biochemistry, bioengineering or a closely related discipline, or equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience
• Practical experience in a broad range of molecular biology techniques
• Practical experience in bioinformatics and protein structure prediction programmes such as AlphaFold
• Practical experience coding with open source platforms such as Python
• Practical experience in microbiome research
• Knowledge of cell-free protein synthesis systems.
• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team

Further information

The contract will run for 36 months in the first instance, with the possibility of an extension thereafter. The post is based in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London (South Kensington Campus).

Informal enquiries about the post can be made to Professor Karen Polizzi ([email protected] )

To apply, please click the “Apply now” button at the top of the page.  Candidates will need to complete an online application.

Further information about the post is available in the job description.

Should you have any queries about the application process please contact [email protected] .

Closing date: Midnight on Tuesday 11 October 2022

For technical issues when applying online please email [email protected]

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 / 

We are committed to equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We therefore encourage candidates to apply irrespective of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion and belief, gender identity, sex, or sexual orientation. We are an Athena SWAN Silver Award winner, a Disability Confident Leader and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

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