Job Description

Job number

NAT02028

Faculties

Faculty of Natural Sciences

Departments

Department of Life Sciences

Salary or Salary range

49,017 - 57,472 per annum

Location/campus

South Kensington Campus - On site only

Contract type work pattern

Full time - Fixed term

Posting End Date

13 Oct 2025

About the role

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We are seeking to recruit a Research Associate to study immune cell biology using state-of-the-art microscopy and other techniques, funded by the Medical Research Council.



The project will be based in Prof. Dan Davis's lab in Imperial College London, South Kensington, to study fundamental aspects of molecular recognition by human Natural Killer cells using molecular and cell biology methods alongside super-resolution fluorescence microscopy.



Advances in technology are helping us understand the immune system as never before, and to develop medicines which boost the system to fight cancer better, to dampen it to combat the symptoms of auto-immune disease, and to help develop better vaccines. Activating and inhibitory receptors on the surface of immune cells are critical determinants of immune activity. The level of each receptor and its ligand, and how well they bind, are primary determinants of disease outcomes. However, advances in microscopy are now revealing a host of other factors which control immune responses. This includes protrusions from immune cells which contact other cells, a complex nanoscale organisation of activating and inhibitory receptors, clusters of proteins secreted by immune cells to kill diseased cells, and novel mechanisms by which immune cells can detach from one target cell to attack again. Understanding immunity on a nanoscale is a major new frontier and will lead to completely new ideas for medicine.



Primarily, this project will focus on recognition of diseased cells, including cancer, by human Natural Killer cells, and a substantial amount of preliminary data is in hand to seed this project and ensure success. The precise direction of the work will be open to discussion with the successful applicant.



This is an exciting opportunity to join a well-equipped multidisciplinary team of around 10 other researchers, including postdocs and PhD students, collectively studying immune cell biology in health and disease, on a nanoscale. You should have a PhD or equivalent level of professional qualification and experience. Some experience in immune cell biology or advanced microscopy or imaging analysis, will be essential. But plenty of expertise and advice will be on hand to help with skills you don't currently have.

What you would be doing

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You will be required to help produce independent and original research as part of a team of postdocs, students and technicians. The project will involve using microscopy to image signal transduction and integration from activating and inhibitory receptors on human immune cells. This will be compared in settings of health and disease. The post involves a high degree of teamwork and interdisciplinary research as well as daily interactions with other members of the lab and other allied scientists within Imperial College and elsewhere as appropriate.

What we are looking for

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You must have a PhD (or about to hold a PhD) in biology, cell biology, immunology, biochemistry, biophysics, or a related field. Experience with human immune cell biology or high-level microscopy is strongly desired. You must have excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as basic knowledge of immunology, cell biology or microscopy. You must also be able to develop and apply new concepts, work with minimal supervision and have a creative approach to problem-solving. The ideal candidate will have the passion and drive to tackle and overcome scientific problems.

What we can offer you

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The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity. Grow your career: gain access to Imperial's sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression. Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 41 days off a year and generous pension schemes). Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Further information

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This is a full-time, fixed term position available until 31 December 2027, via a program grant funded by the Medical Research Council (UK).



Please note that any candidate who has not been yet awarded their PhD, will be appointed as a Research Assistant.



For informal enquiries please contact Professor Daniel Davis (dols.hod@imperial.ac.uk).

Available documents

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Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.



If you encounter any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us at support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk. We're here to help.

About Imperial

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Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world's toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.



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This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you'll join us at Imperial College London.

Our Culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.



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