Research Fellow (Pesenacker Team)

Dr Pesenacker directs an interdisciplinary team, focussed on molecular and cellular immunology techniques such as high parameter flow cytometry and imaging techniques, CRISPR-Cas9, molecular cloning, biochemical approaches and in vitro cell culture. Key research goals of the group are to gain a greater understanding of how regulatory T cells and co-receptors function in health and change in disease.

The state-of-the-art Institute of Infection, Immunity and Transplantation (IIT, Royal Free campus, Pears Building) aims to translate advances in the understanding of the immune system in health and disease to improve diagnosis, disease management and therapy. The Institute’s close links to the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust provides an excellent interface between science and medicine.

This project addresses an important gap in our knowledge of how the immune system and in particular regulatory T cell (Treg) fitness and co-receptor usage changes in blood and/or the allograft in acute renal transplant rejection. Treg, effector T and myeloid/stromal cell phenotypes will be characterised utilising high-dimensional spectral flow cytometry (PBMCs) and Cyclic Staining based imaging (biopsies), plus Treg functionality will be assessed in vitro. This project will help our understanding of how changes in immune regulation might drive transplant rejection and whether specific tissue subsets could be targeted for therapeutic purposes. The post-holder will work with primary human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and Tregs from healthy controls and kidney transplant recipients at multiple timepoints, as well as human tissue. High-dimensional spectral flow cytometry (Cytek® Aurora) and high-dimensional imaging (Miltenyi MACSimaTM) and functional Treg assays will be used to characterise Treg fitness and TIGIT/CD226 co-receptors in blood and allograft. Sample (PB, tissue) processing and managing of inventory and clinical data securely is part of the role.

The post-holder will be expected to perform the highest quality of research under the direction of the Principal Investigator, and to work effectively with group members and collaborators and according to UCL's ways of working. Experience with high dimensional flow cytometry, tissue processing, high dimensional imaging and cell handling is expected.

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave, 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. Our department holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality.