Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Coronavirus Immunology

We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated immunologist to join the Turtle Group at the University of Liverpool https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/infection-veterinary-and-ecological-sciences/staff/lance-turtle working on coronavirus immunology. The work is funded by the US Food and Drug Administration and the UK Medical Research Council. The Turtle lab works on immunity to emerging viruses. We have major research themes on Flaviviruses, including a first in human trial of a Zika vaccine currently underway, and we work on mpox in addition to our coronavirus work.

You will join a small and dynamic team that works closely with several other laboratories around the UK, in particular the PITCH consortium https://www.pitch-study.org. The PITCH consortium has published >40 papers on COVID immunology since mid-2020, and has informed and supported Government vaccine policy, such as being cited in the “Green Book” on immunisation https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-the-green-book-chapter-14a . The PITCH consortium also works with several other UK wide consortia, such as the SIREN study (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/siren-study) and the International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium ISARIC, https://isaric4c.net.

In Liverpool, you will work with Dr Lance Turtle and Prof Julian Hiscox. The wider immunology team involved in the work includes Profs Susie Dunachie and Paul Klenerman (Oxford); Profs Thushan de Silva and Sarah Rowland-Jones (Sheffield); Dr Victoria Hall and Prof Susan Hopkins (UK-HSA).

The overall aim of this work is to study the response to COVID vaccines and natural infection, and to assess how ongoing immunity cross-reacts and protects against different variants of SARS-CoV-2. In particular the study characterises re-infection with SARS-CoV-2, and the difference between people who have been re-infected many times versus those who have never been infected or have been infected only once. We are also interested in describing the potential for T cell responses against SARS-CoV-2 to cross-react with other coronaviruses. The post holder will contribute to work that can inform the ongoing public health response to COVID, and to other viruses with pandemic potential.

Any applicants who are still awaiting their PhD to be awarded should be aware that if successful, they will be appointed at grade 6, spine point 30.  Upon written confirmation that they have been successful in being awarded their PhD, they will be moved onto grade 7, spine point 31 from the date of their award.

Informal enquires addressed to Lance Turtle lance.turtle@liverpool.ac.uk are strongly encouraged.

For full details and to apply online, please click the ‘Apply’ button, above.