PLEASE NOTE: This vacancy is now CLOSED
Research Assistant – Job ID:008564
Closing date: 15th November 2020
Salary (inclusive of London allowance): £35,366 per annum
Location: Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Hours: Full-time, Fixed-term contract for 24 months
Job Description
This post is part of the National Cancer Imaging Translational Accelerator (NCITA). NCITA brings together seven cancer imaging centres (Cambridge, Imperial, ICR, KCL, Manchester, Oxford and UCL) and aims to addresss the gaps in translation of imaging biomarkers. NCITA will establish a fast and robust cross-institutional pipeline to produce quality assured locked down Imaging Biomarkers (IB): both for drug discovery within pharma clinical trials leading to more efficient development of cancer therapies; and practice changing paradigms within the NHS for areas of unmet clinical need.
Duties and Responsibilities
The post holder will be responsible for implementing a standardized method of generating and validating patient derived organoids from upper GI and other tumour types, which can then be introduced across NCITA, creating an annotated organoid repository for image related studies.
The post holder will provide practical expertise in optimizing tissue processing for a range of assays that complement medical imaging data and increase data input into artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms. There is a strong emphasis on shared-learning within the Imaging Network to enhance delivery of results.
The post holder is also expected to facilitate and participate in Comprehensive Cancer Centre research and development programmes.
Key Responsibilities
• To collect tissue samples and blood from operating theatres at Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospitals (GSTT).
• To perform tissue and blood sample processing
• To generate and maintain patient derived organoids (PDOs) from upper GI and other cancer tissue samples
• To work closely with the Head of the Guy’s Cancer Biobank, surgeons at GSTT to ensure efficient and appropriate sample collection and processing
• To adhere to SOPs and guidelines, including obtaining informed consent from patients.
• To work closely with colleagues at the City of London Centre (at UCL) to develop and share knowledge and understanding on organoid development.
• To keep up to date with recent relevant literature in the areas PDO development
• To actively participate as a member of the Cell Imaging team.
• Collaborate with academic colleagues on areas of shared research interest.
The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.
Skills, Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
• BSc in Biology or related subject
• Experience in tissue collecting/processing
• Knowledge and experience with molecular and cell biological techniques
• Interest in cancer research
• Hardworking and ability to prioritise work
• Willingness to learn new skills
Desirable criteria
• MSc in Biology or related subject
• Hands on experience with generation of organoids/spheroids
• Experience with microscopy
• Tenacity to conduct a project
• Good presentation skills
Further Details
For further details please contact Dora Jonsdottir (dora.jonsdottir@kcl.ac.uk)
To apply for the vacancy please click here.