Research Assistant

Job id: 084930. Salary: £37,332 – £39,980 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

Posted: 23 February 2024. Closing date: 22 March 2024.

Business unit: Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine. Department: SCMMS Guys.

Contact details:Professor Shanta Persaud. [email protected]

Location: Guy’s Campus. Category: Research.

Job description

Applications are invited for two four-year Research Assistant positions 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. This research assistant post will provide support to a post-doctoral researcher, appointed to start at the same time. 

Research Assistant 1

The successful candidate will have a BSc, MSc or PhD in a relevant biomedical sciences subject and be familiar with human stem cell (ES or iPS) differentiation protocols. The main responsibilities will be supporting the post-doctoral researcher with human stem cell culture and differentiation; 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 research assistant post will be held within a vibrant islet biology research community at the Guy’s campus of King’s College London.

Research Assistant 2 

The successful candidate will have a BSc, MSc or PhD in a relevant biomedical sciences subject and be familiar with islet biology and in vivo models of type 1 diabetes. The main responsibilities will be supporting the post-doctoral researcher with determining the effects of mesenchymal stromal cell secretory products and extracellular matrix on stem cell-derived islet function;  nanoencapsulating stem cell-derived islets to deliver biotherapeutics; and evaluating the effects of the best performing stem cell-derived islets in diabetic mice in vivo. This research assistant post will be held within a vibrant islet biology research community at the Guy’s campus of King’s College London

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 [email protected] .

This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract, with proposed employment dates of 01/06/2024-31/05/2028.

This is a full-time post – 100% full time equivalent.

Key responsibilities

• Undertake laboratory research to achieve the project objectives.
• Order reagents that are required for successful execution of the research.
• 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.
• Present work to the Patient and Public Involvement Steering Group.
• Contribute to writing 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
Research Assistant 1

Essential criteria

BSc, MSc or PhD in a relevant biomedical sciences subject.

Research experience in a molecular cell biology discipline.

Familiarity with human stem cell culture and/or differentiation protocols

Cell culture experience.

Familiarity with general molecular cell biology techniques, such as qRT-PCR, scRNAseq, immunohistochemistry, immunoassays, proteomics.

Desirable criteria

Experience with human stem cell differentiation.

Experience with islets of Langerhans.

Research Assistant 2

Essential criteria

BSc, MSc or PhD in a relevant biomedical sciences subject.

Research experience in a molecular cell biology discipline.

Cell culture experience.

Familiarity with general molecular cell biology techniques, such as qRT-PCR, scRNAseq, immunohistochemistry, immunoassays.

Desirable criteria

Experience with islets of Langerhans.

Experience of using mouse models for diabetes or metabolic studies.

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 to Occupational Health clearance.