Blizard Institute
Centre for Immunobiology
QMUL are looking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Assistant in investigating how immunity in older people with asthma changes and how this effects treatment responses - this post is funded by Barts Charity. The position will be based in the lab of Dr Emma Chambers in the Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute at Barts and The London Medical School. The successful candidate should have excellent communication skills, together with the ability to organize and motivate others. They should be able to demonstrate enthusiasm and innovation when faced with challenges and will utilise cross-disciplinary approaches in conducting their research.
Ageing is a global burden and older people are living longer with chronic diseases such as asthma. However, most clinical and research studies on phenotype and control of asthmatic disease to-date have focussed on younger patients, often actively excluding older participants. The aim of the lab is to understand how immunity changes with age and how ageing effects asthma phenotype, severity and treatment responses.
Dr Chambers’ group uses a wide range of immunological and molecular biology techniques including but not limited to; 12-20 colour flow cytometry, isolation of PBMCS, bead based isolation of leukocyte populations, long- and short-term cell culture of primary human cells, cytometric bead array, ELISA, western blots, metabolic analysis of immune cells, confocal microscopy and RNAseq.
Candidates should be able to demonstrate an ability to learn new techniques and employ their previous experience, which should cover a broad range of immunological and tissue culture techniques. Expertise in immunology, at least 8-12 colour flow cytometry, isolating PBMCs, in vitro cell culture, cytokine assessment by cytometric bead array and/or ELISA is particularly desirable. The successful candidate may be required to assist in other areas of research.
