Research Assistant (93186)

Full-time, fixed-term to 1st February 2027

Investigating novel therapies against pathogenic mycobacteria

Responsibilities include laboratory maintenance and project-based activities

Essential experience in microbiology, cell culture, and genomics

Salary: £33,951 - £38,784 p.a. (starting salary will be £33,951 p.a.)

Full-Time, Fixed-term appointment to 1st February 2027 (possibility of extension subject to funding)

The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine is seeking a Research Assistant to support a newly awarded MRC Impact Accelerator Account project investigating a novel host-directed therapy and antibiotic potentiator against pathogenic mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium abscessus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The role will involve developing in vitro macrophage infection models, cytokine profiling, whole-genome sequencing of resistant bacteria, and investigating other Hazard Group 3 pathogens including Brucella spp.

The ideal candidate should have experience in microbiology, cell culture, immunology, molecular biology, or host-pathogen interactions, alongside experience with macrophage infection models, cytokine analysis, bacterial genomics, or pathogenic organisms. CL3 training and experience with Schedule 5 and SAPO-regulated work are essential.

Key responsibilities will include:

General Laboratory Activities

• Support general maintenance tasks in the lab including media preparation, maintenance of bacterial cultures and autoclaving waste
• Preparation of stock compounds, drugs, and reagents
• Comply and implement all good working laboratory practices and health and safety regulations and assessments
• Assist organisation, receipt and processing of clinical and reference bacterial strains

Project based laboratory activities

• Conduct checkerboard assays and MICs of bacterial strains
• Perform multiplexed cytokine assays on treated vs non-treated cells
• Work in Tissue Culture, CL2 and CL3 facilities to evaluate host directed therapy in a macrophage model of infection
• Extract DNA and whole genome sequence bacteria cultured in various conditions
• Assist with the supervision and training of postgraduate students working at CL2 and CL3

Project based office activities

• Analyse synergy of drug combinations using R packages
• Map cytokine networks from data generated in the lab
• Conduct command line bioinformatics of bacterial genomic data
• Effectively prepare reports & presentations and communicate project updates at internal and external meetings
• Assist in developing standard operating procedures and risk assessments and reviewing current health and safety documents

Ideally you will demonstrate:

• BSc or equivalent in a biological science
• MRes, MSc or equivalent in a biological science
• Experience or training in microbiology and cell culture
• Trained to work at CL3 with Schedule 5 and SAPO
• Culture of Brucella clinical isolates for antimicrobial susceptibility testing
• Experience of mycobacterial intracellular infection models for testing drugs
• Maintenance and recording of laboratory data, methods and protocols

  (For a full list of essential and desirable criteria please refer to the job description and person specification)

Informal enquiries can be made to:

Additional benefits of joining LSTM:

• Access to support for your career growth through a variety of internal and external learning and development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Platform offering a range of wellbeing initiatives and support, in addition to high-street discount offers
• 30 days annual leave, plus 8 UK bank holidays, in addition to 6 Christmas closure days
• Generous occupational pension schemes including USS (Universities Superannuation Scheme) and NHS pension schemes (subject to eligibility)
• Government backed "cycle to work" scheme
• Affiliated, discounted staff membership to the University of Liverpool Sports Centre
• A range of enhanced family friendly policies