Postdoctoral Research Associate in Mechanistic Toxicology – Strand, London, WC2R 2LS

We seek to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Toxicology to join the team of Dr Luigi Margiotta-Casaluci, in collaboration with Professor Christer Hogstrand, at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London. The Margiotta-Casaluci lab specialises in mechanistic and translational toxicology, developing next‑generation predictive methods — including advanced human and zebrafish models and AI‑driven approaches — to decode the adverse effects of drugs and chemicals.

The post is part of UNSaFE (Understanding the Scale, Sources, Fate and Effects of PFAS pollution), a £2 million NERC/UKRI‑funded collaborative programme led by Imperial College London in partnership with King’s, Brunel University, and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. We foster a collaborative and inclusive research culture, with access to state‑of‑the‑art zebrafish facilities and advanced imaging platforms including the Nikon Centre of Excellence at King’s. We are committed to supporting the career development of our researchers and to producing internationally impactful science that addresses pressing human and environmental health challenges.

PFAS (per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances), often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’, are a large and diverse group of synthetic compounds that are persistent in the environment and increasingly detected at concerning levels in both aquatic ecosystems and human populations. Despite their widespread occurrence, the biological hazards posed by PFAS remain poorly understood, and mechanistic frameworks for their toxicological assessment are largely lacking.

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to develop an innovative research project that will investigate the mechanisms of PFAS toxicity, with a focus on characterising their biological effects at the molecular, cellular, and physiological level. The candidate will apply advanced zebrafish models combined with in‑vivo immune imaging using transgenic zebrafish larvae, behavioural profiling, and multi‑omics approaches – including transcriptomics – to generate high‑quality experimental datasets and advance the understanding of the health effects of PFAS. The zebrafish model offers unique translational value, providing insights that are relevant to both environmental and human health.

The candidate will also apply computational and AI‑driven approaches to integrate and interpret complex biological data, in line with the lab’s expertise in next‑generation predictive toxicology. The research will be conducted as part of the UNSaFE consortium, a £2 million NERC/UKRI‑funded collaborative programme, and the successful candidate will benefit from interactions with partners at Imperial College London, Brunel University, and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

The candidate will contribute to scientific publications, present at national and international conferences, assist with grant reporting, and will have the opportunity to supervise MSc and PhD students. The successful candidate will also be supported to apply for postdoctoral fellowships to further develop their independent research career.

This is a full‑time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed‑term until 30th September 2028. Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro‑rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.