Research Assistant

We are seeking an excellent researcher to work on the detection of pathogens from wastewater. The post is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and focuses on the design and optimisation of protocols for preparation of sequencing libraries, with developed assays to be trialled in laboratories in Asia and Africa.

You will work closely with members of the Vaccine Epidemiology Research Group and have access to excellent peer support from with other members of the Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis. You will also communicate and meet with task teams from CMC Vellore and KNUST Ghana and with staff at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The post would be especially suited to an early career laboratory scientist looking to expand their repertoire of skills or to a clinician who wishes to gain laboratory experience. You will be expected to produce high quality research, contribute towards publications in scientific journals, attend and present at conferences and attend meetings with researchers and policy-makers relevant to the field.

Duties and responsibilities

Key objectives are as follows:

• 
  To compare methods of wastewater concentration to optimise pathogen detection.


• To design and optimise amplicon-based assays for a variety of pathogens.


• To prepare sequencing libraries for nanopore sequencing.


• To assist with the writing and maintenance of standard operating procedures.


• To assist in training of overseas laboratories in molecular methods of pathogen detection.


• To organise and analyse data resulting from deployment of the developed methods in an international field trial.


• To interact with other members of the research group and with our national and international partners.

Essential requirements

You should hold a first/masters degree for appointment to Research Assistant in molecular biology, biomedical sciences or related discipline with strong laboratory skills and an interest in infectious disease epidemiology and/or vaccine research.

Experience in the performance of molecular assays and handling of wastewater samples is highly desirable.

Further information

This role is offered on a full time, fixed term basis until 29 February 2024 in the first instance. Imperial College is supportive of flexible working. The College is happy to discuss the possibility of implementing such arrangements for this post, with suitably qualified people, subject to operational requirements

Should you have any queries please contact: Dr Alex Shaw (a.shaw@imperial.ac.uk)

• ResearchAssistant - JD.pdf