Research Fellow

University of Birmingham - College of Medicine and Health - School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology - Department of Inflammation and Ageing

Location: Birmingham

Salary: £36,130 to £45,413 Grade 7

Hours: Full Time

Contract Type: Fixed-Term/Contract

Placed On: 17th September 2025

Closes: 1st October 2025

Job Ref: 106152

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,130 to £45,413 with potential progression once in post to £48,149

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to August 2029

Background

The Medical Research Council has recently funded a Four-year, £1.5M cohort study, that is studying the impact of e-cigarettes on immune and epithelial cells within the lungs of smokers trying to quit using e-cigarettes. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide, and a risk factor for many diseases. With an ageing population, the profound economic and health burden of smoking-related disease continues to increase. E-cigarettes are an effective, NICE recommended smoking cessation tool yet the long-term effects of vaping remain uncertain. Our short-term exposure studies have shown the deleterious effects of e-cigarette exposure on innate immune cell function (neutrophils, alveolar macrophages), suggesting potential harm from chronic exposure. This project aims to address this knowledge gap by recruiting a cohort of healthy smokers aiming to quit smoking using e-cigarettes, to provide critical data needed to determine safety and to inform personal choice, public debate, and policy. This longitudinal cohort study will evaluate accumulation of toxins in the airways, changes in epithelial and innate immune cell functions during smoking cessation, by combining a multi-omic approach with whole-cell effector functions and characterise changes in the respiratory microbiome.

Main Duties

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Ex vivo analysis of immune cells isolated from blood or Bronchoalveolar lavage samples – phenotypic, functional and molecular biology assays.
• Disseminate research findings in the form of publications and at research seminars
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline.
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration.
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Person Specification

• First degree in area of specialism (life sciences) and a PhD (or near to completion) relevant to research area (immunology).
• Expertise in flowcytometry and/or fluorescent microscopy
• High level of analytical capability, especially in the understanding and analysis of large data sets such as transcriptomic, proteomic or metabolomic data sets.
• Experience in immune cell isolation, cell culture, metabolic assays, ELISA’s, RNA and DNA isolation, Western blotting and flow cytometry is essential.
• Experience in working with clinical samples.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly.
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones. Broadly speaking, this will encompass flow cytometry-based methods, metabolic assays, analysis and interpretation of omics data sets.

Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Aaron Scott a.scott@bham.ac.uk

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the Apply button above.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.