Scientist - Cellular Immunology

CK Group are recruiting for a Scientist – Cellular Immunology to join a discovery stage biotechnology start-up focused on revolutionising therapies through advanced computational antigen design.

The role will be based at their site in Kings Cross, London and is a permanent role with Mon-Fri day time working hours.

The Role

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Cellular Immunologist to join the growing lab team as a core member of the Translational Research Team responsible for Cellular Immunology workflows and vaccine development. This is a lab-based role that requires a combination of scientific and technical expertise in cellular immunology and T cell biology, including antigen processing and MHC presentation.

You will apply your cellular immunology expertise to participate in the design, optimisation and execution of cell-based assays, supporting the evaluation of our innovative antigen designs.

Responsibilities:

• Actively participate and assist in the development of robust cellular and immunological testing platforms to inform and validate antigen design for therapeutic development.
• Participate and assist in the conceptualisation, design, optimisation and execution of innovative functional assays using primary mouse/human cells and cell lines to assess T cell responses, antigen presentation and efficacy.
• Characterise T cell responses to antigens using techniques such as flow cytometry, intracellular cytokine staining (ICS), cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) assays, and cytokine profiling.
• Cell culture (propagation, isolation, banking and characterisation) of cell lines and primary cells, including processing of immune tissues and PBMC isolation.
• Assess antigen delivery, expression, and processing using DNA and mRNA transfection; support formulation of mRNA-LNP therapies for immunisation studies.
• Collaborate effectively with other functions within the Translational Research team to support their research activities as needed.

Your Background:

Essential:

• A PhD in T cell biology or cellular immunology; OR a PhD in a relevant biology subject with equivalent T-cell experience gained in academia or industry post-PhD.
• 1-2 years post-graduate experience in an industrial or academic lab setting.
• Background in T cell biology and extensive experience in functional and analytical assays using primary human and/or animal T cells.
• Skilled in handling and culturing T cells (primary and cell lines).
• Experience in in vitro and ex vivo assays to evaluate cellular immune responses, including cytokine secretion, T cell expansion, intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) assays.
• Experience using multi-parameter flow cytometry (including panel design, staining, and data analysis) for immunophenotyping.
• Competent in transfecting cells with plasmid DNA and/or in vitro transcribed (IVT) mRNA.

Desirable:

• Experience with other immune cell types, in particular, dendritic cells and other antigen-presenting cells (including primary, cell lines, IPSC-derived models).
• Experience in TCR and/or MHC engineering.
• Hands-on laboratory experience in testing and developing of biologics or vaccines.
• Experience automating computational analysis workflows for flow cytometry data.
• Experience designing and performing preclinical mouse studies to evaluate T cell responses.
• Experience with the production of mRNA and formulation of mRNA-LNPs.
• Experience with T-cell targeting antigen design and optimisation.
• Proficient in molecular biology methods such as cloning, DNA amplification, and transfection.

Apply:

It is essential all applicants hold entitlement to work in the UK. Please quote job reference 150 822 in all correspondence.