Post-doctoral Research Associate in Islet Science

Applications are invited for a 3-year Post-Doctoral Research Associate position working in the Salem lab at the Guy’s Campus of King’s College London. You will be reporting to Professor Victoria Salem, the RD Lawrence Chair in Diabetic Medicine, and the lab nests in the wider Diabetes Research Group within the School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences at King’s College London. The Salem lab is a multidisciplinary effort spanning clinical diabetology, basic islet biology and bioengineering for cell-based cures for type 1 diabetes.

At present we are focussed on: advanced organ on chip models of diabetes and its complications, in vivo microscopy, animal models to understand islet biology and material science as applied to scaffolds to support alternative transplant sites for beta cell replacement therapies including stem-cell derived beta cells.

The successful candidate will have a PhD in a relevant biomedical sciences / bioengineering subject and have expertise in beta cells and / or experience of assessment of function of islets of Langerhans. Experience of animal models of diabetes is also expected, particularly transplant models and confocal microscopy. Experience with the design of organ on chip models would also be highly desirable.

The main responsibilities will be:

• Human, rodent and stem cell derived islet functional testing
• Confocal microscopy (quantification of ATP generation, calcium fluxes, insulin secretion, apoptosis, etc.)
• In vivo (maintenance of normoglycaemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice)
• Cell culture of other cell lines of interest (e.g. blood outgrowth endothelial cells)
• Transition of complex beta cell models into organ on chip platforms

This post-doctoral associate post will be held within a vibrant islet biology research community at the Guy’s campus of King’s College London. This is a full time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract for three years. Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development.

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

• PhD in a relevant biomedical sciences or bioengineering subject.
• Post-doctoral research experience preferably in diabetes.
• Using mouse models in experimental research (preferably in metabolic studies).
• Confocal microscopy and image analysis.
• Isolation and functional analysis of islets of Langerhans or beta cells.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of islet transplantation into mice particularly the anterior chamber of the eye.
• Organ on chip manufacture and functional readouts.
• Strong publication record / evidence of ability to write papers.

Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

At King’s, we believe that the diversity of our community and a culture that is welcoming, open, inclusive and collaborative, are great strengths of the university. We are committed to free speech and to academic freedom, believing that our foundational purpose as a university is to create spaces where a wide range of ideas can be discussed and debated.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job description. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

Interviews are due to be held on 10th February. This post is subject to Occupational Health clearances.