Research Assistant Full-time NEW

Research Assistant

The University College London (UCL) Department of Kidney Medicine and Bladder Health is based at the Royal Free Hospital, combining world-leading immunology research in autoimmune kidney disease with access to clinical samples for rare diseases. The Institute of Immunity & Transplantation (IIT), based in the Pears Building on the Royal Free Hospital campus, brings together more than 20 world-class immunology research groups working at the forefront of translational immunology. The candidate for this post will benefit from an outstanding interface between fundamental science and clinical medicine. This post is funded by a Wellcome Trust Early-Career Award held by Dr Marilina Antonelou, Consultant Nephrologist and Clinical Research Fellow, based within the Division of Medicine at UCL. Dr Antonelou's programme investigates how neutrophils drive B-cell dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis, working under the sponsorship of Professor Claudia Mauri (Professor of Immunology, UCL) and in collaboration with Professor Antonella Spinazzola (mitochondrial biology), Dr Joseph Ng(bioinformatics) and Professor David Thomas (redox proteomics, University of Cambridge).

We are seeking a motivated Research Assistant to join Dr Antonelou's research programme investigating multiomic neutrophil–B-cell immunometabolic crosstalk in autoimmune kidney disease, using lupus nephritis as a disease model. Lupus nephritis is a severe manifestation of SLE that often progresses to kidney failure despite current immunosuppression, and this project aims to define how neutrophil-derived mitochondrial DNA reprogrammes B-cell metabolism and differentiation, with the ultimate goal of identifying new therapeutic targets. The post-holder will play a central role in the day-to-day delivery of this multiomic project, generating and processing samples from a longitudinal cohort of lupus nephritis patients (pre- and post-rituximab) and healthy controls.

The work integrates:

• Multispectral (spectral) flow cytometry of neutrophils and B-cell subsets — the post-holder should already have hands-on experience in this technique
• Lipidomic and metabolic assays (mitochondrial ROS, NADPH/redox balance, cholesterol trafficking)
• Proteomics, including LC-MS/MS analyses performed in collaboration with the Thomas lab (Cambridge)
• Single-cell RNA sequencing (10x Genomics Chromium GEM-X Flex) with surface-protein barcoding of paired neutrophils and B-cells
• Spatial protein profiling of renal biopsies from patients with lupus nephritis, using the MACSima high-plex imaging platform

Reporting to Dr Marilina Antonelou, the post-holder will:

• Liaise with clinical teams in the lupus/vasculitis clinics and renal wards to identify and recruit eligible patients, and coordinate timely collection of blood and surplus renal biopsy tissue
• Process and cryopreserve neutrophils, PBMCs and B-cells from patient and healthy donor blood samples following standard operating procedures
• Perform multispectral flow cytometry immunophenotyping of neutrophil and B-cell subsets, including panel design support, compensation/spectral unmixing, and data analysis
• Set up and support neutrophil–B-cell co-culture and functional assays (e.g. NET isolation, mitochondrial/cytosolic ROS assays, cytokine ELISAs)
• Prepare samples for scRNA-seq (10x Genomics) and coordinate workflows with UCL's core sequencing facility
• Support MACSima spatial proteomic staining and imaging of renal biopsy sections, working with the Institute's imaging facility
• Maintain accurate, audit-ready records of sample acquisition, clinical metadata, freezer/liquid-nitrogen storage logs and laboratory stocks
• Ensure compliance with Good Clinical Practice, the Human Tissue Act, UK GDPR and the study's HRA/REC approvals (REC ref: 05/Q0508/6)
• Contribute to lab meetings, data presentation and, where appropriate, manuscript preparation
• Support wider group activities and the training of students (BSc/MSc/MRes) joining the team

This is a full-time post, funded for 2.5 years in the first instance, based at the UCL Institute of Immunity & Transplantation, Pears Building, Royal Free Hospital campus.

This post is not eligible for UCL sponsorship.

We are looking for a candidate with the following essential experience and skills:

• A BSc (or equivalent) in Immunology, Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry or a related discipline, or equivalent laboratory experience
• Demonstrable hands-on experience in multispectral (spectral) flow cytometry, including panel design, sample staining and data analysis — this is essential for the role
• Experience of human sample processing (e.g. PBMC/neutrophil isolation, cryopreservation) in a research laboratory setting
• Sound understanding of laboratory health & safety and good record-keeping practices
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to maintain accurate experimental and sample records
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, managing time and competing priorities
• Willingness to work flexibly if circumstances allow, including outside normal hours at short notice, to process time-sensitive clinical sample

The following would be desirable but are not essential:

• Prior experience with lipidomic, metabolic or mitochondrial functional assays
• Experience with single-cell RNA sequencing sample preparation (e.g. 10x Genomics workflows)
• Experience with high-plex spatial/imaging platforms (e.g. MACSima, GeoMX,Xenium)
• Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (GCP), the Human Tissue Act and research governance for clinical samples
• Experience with basic data analysis in R/ Python.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a multidisciplinary team working across the Division of Medicine. As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits, some of which are below:

• 41 days holiday (27 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays 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
• Immigration loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.

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.

Our department holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality.