"Research Fellow"

About us

Our mission is to maximise and advocate for the holistic health of all children, young people and the adults they will become, through world-class research, education and public engagement. The UCL GOS ICH, together with its clinical partner Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, forms the largest concentration of children’s health research outside North America. The 2024-29 GOS ICH strategy focuses on its five scientific programmes. GOS ICH’s activities include active engagement with children and families, to ensure that our work is relevant and appropriate to their needs. GOS ICH generates the funding for our research by setting out our proposals in high quality applications to public, charitable and industrial funding bodies and disseminates the results of our research by publication in the medical and scientific literature, to clinicians, policy makers and the wider public. The Institute offers world-class education and training across a wide range of teaching and life learning programmes which address the needs of students and professional groups who are interested in and undertaking work relevant to child health. GOS ICH holds an Athena SWAN Charter Gold Award. Please only attach relevant documents to your application (qualifications, cover letters, supporting statements) and avoid attaching large files e.g. research papers, thesis, publications etc.

About the role

This new post represents an opportunity for an experienced researcher to develop their expertise as a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) production scientist who will lead production campaigns of therapeutic CAR-T cell products for children with malignant brain tumours and extracranial tumours. The post holder will have previous experience of running manufacturing campaigns and will have certification for leading and participating in GMP production runs in the UK or equivalent countries from regulatory perspective. They will have direct experience of successfully completing and submitting regulatory documentation related to GMP production campaigns. They will also have extensive preclinical experience of working with primary T cells and viral vectors in gene therapy, and will have well developed skills in record keeping and problem solving. The post will comprise approximately 18 months as lead scientist running production campaigns within a team. The job represents a significant opportunity for a scientist with existing interest and experience in GMP for CAR-T cell development to consolidate GMP knowledge and leadership experience. The clinical trials represent two related trials using the same targeting vector and so there will be significant opportunity for team-working. There is considerable opportunity for the appointee to develop or consolidate a longer-term career in GMP for cell and gene therapy including the extension of the post and future transition to a grade 8 position. The post holder will also interact collaboratively with the preclinical team in further academic GMP manufacturing development and be presented with ample opportunities for project development and publications. The salary offered in this post is £45,103 - £47,451 per annum and is funded until 31/10/2027 in the first instance.

About you

The successful candidate will have previous experience of T cell based cellular therapies as well as a working knowledge and understanding of the regulatory aspects of working within an accredited GMP facility. We particularly welcome applicants who also have background in preclinical work related to T cell therapeutics, molecular biology, cloning, and viral transduction.

Customer advert reference: B02-10103