Postdoctoral Fellow – In Vivo

Postdoctoral Fellow – In Vivo

Contact term:

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  This is a full-time, fixed term position (4 years) on Crick terms and conditions of employment.

  
  

Postdoctoral Fellows are expected to lead their own projects, contribute to other projects on a collaborative basis (both in the lab and with external collaborators) and guide PhD students in their research. The ability to work in a team is essential.

The Research Group

The RNA Virus Replication Lab, headed by Dr David LV Bauer, was established in 2020 at the Francis Crick Institute. Our lab seeks to understand how RNA viruses replicate, how the unique properties of their RNA genome contribute to this process, and how immunity develops and in turn influences viral replication and evolution. We largely focus on influenza and coronaviruses.

Our lab borrows tools from biochemistry, molecular biology, virology, genomics, and bioinformatics. We use a wide range of models (from animals and human samples, to cultured cells and purified in vitro proteins), and take advantage of the fact that the Crick is the largest biomedical institute under one roof in Europe, with considerable BSL-3 and ABSL-3 facilities, and integration with on-site core facilities (Science and Technology Platforms: Genomics, Bioinformatics & Biostatistics, High Throughput Screening, in vivo imaging, etc.). We are an active part of the UK’s virology community, working with colleagues in the G2P2-UK Consortium, the Legacy Study, the WWW Consortium, and the Crick’s Worldwide Influenza Centre, one of seven WHO Collaborating Centres for influenza. This collaborative environment has helped us build a strong track record of translating our research into policy and treatment, ably assisted by the Crick’s Translation Team.

Our team is multi-disciplinary and currently composed of three PhD students, one undergraduate student, two post-doctoral fellows, two senior laboratory research scientists, and one bioinformatician. We are a diverse group of scientists, from a wide range of backgrounds – scientific and otherwise – and believe that our best work comes from working together in a fun, positive, motivating, and exciting atmosphere.

About The Crick

The Francis Crick Institute provides an outstanding community and scientific environment for postdoctoral training, with an excellent training program for postdocs. Opportunities include the post-doc to PI transition training (optional), a wide range of training opportunities in computational/ experimental/out-of-the-lab skills, the opportunity to hire/supervise summer students, support for applying for external fellowships, the opportunity to organise scientific meetings and the potential to have collaborative projects with industry.

The Project

SARS-CoV-2 evolution has been characterised by antigenic “leaps” comprising large numbers of mutations (e.g. Omicron BA.1/2, then BA.2.86/JN.1) and natural recombination events between different strains (e.g. XBB). Monitoring of persistently infected patients and populations via wastewater suggests convergent evolution of immune escape mutations in Spike as well as fundamental viral adaptation to chronic infection.

This project aims to determine the host and viral factors that drive persistent infection, and their link with leaps of viral evolution using in vivo models. It will involve close collaboration with leading UK virology labs, as part of the Genotype-to-Phenotype 2 (G2P2-UK) Consortium. The successful candidate will be given wide latitude to decide on the exact aim(s), or to drive an independent project within these areas. (Please note that there is a separate position being advertised for molecular-focused work as well.) Some specific aims could take advantage of the resources available within our group and the wider institute:

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  Characterise chronic infections in animal models using state-of-the art BSL3 facilities at the Crick. These include in vivo imaging in high containment (micro-CT, fluorescence, luminescence), in vivo respiratory phenotyping (plethysmography, telemetry), and linked pipelines to core facilities (experimental histopathology, live-virus neutralisation, host/viral sequencing, single-cell sequencing).

  
  


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  Map how chronic infections affect coronavirus recombination and gene expression, using targeted direct RNAseq approaches established in the lab, spatial transcriptomics, and tagged viruses generated using established reverse genetics approaches.

  
  


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  Evaluate transmission bottlenecks and viral population dynamics between immunocompromised hosts, in comparison to data from clinical samples from the Crick/UCLH Legacy Study and related studies, using longitudinal virus sequence data.

  
  

Overall, Postdoctoral Fellows will lead their own research project(s) and may contribute to other collaborative projects. They are expected to contribute to a positive lab culture, share their expertise, and train other colleagues. Postdoctoral Fellows are expected to take advantage of the training and network opportunities at the Crick, and are encouraged to build their own independence and leadership in research through attendance at consortium meetings, national and international scientific conferences, and applications for competitive fellowships, and to take the lead in managing their own research with collaborators and the Crick’s core facilities (Science and Technology Platforms).

Key experience and competencies

The post holder should embody and demonstrate our core Crick values: bold, open, and collegial, in addition to the following:

Essential

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  PhD in Virology, Immunology or related fields. You may also be in the final stages of PhD submission.

  
  


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  Extensive experience using small animal models of infection (e.g. mouse, hamster, ferret)

  
  


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  Good knowledge and experience in downstream analysis of in vivo samples in one or more areas (e.g. histology, flow cytometry, RT-qPCR, RNAseq)

  
  


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  Track record of writing papers as evidenced by publications or submitted manuscripts in referred journals

  
  


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  Evidence of data presentation at scientific meetings

  
  


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  Experience of experimental design

  
  


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  Excellent communication skills to enable close working with collaborators / consortium members, and relevant core facilities, while able to also work independently to drive projects forward

  
  

Desirable

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  Experience working with coronaviruses or other respiratory pathogens within a containment laboratory setting

  
  


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  Experience using single-cell sequencing and/or spatial transcriptomics

  
  


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  Experience in using one or more of in vivo imaging techniques with small animal models (e.g. micro-CT, fluorescence, luminescence)

  
  


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  Experience using respiratory phenotyping tools (e.g. plethysmography) and data analysis

  
  


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  Experience with animal telemetry systems and data analysis

  
  


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  Experience in complex data analysis (e.g. multi-omics, time-series, machine learning)

  
  

Find out what benefits the Crick has to offer:

For more information on our great pay and benefits package please click here: https://www.crick.ac.uk/careers-and-study/life-at-the-crick/pay-and-benefits

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We welcome applications from all backgrounds. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, pregnancy, age, disability, or civil partnership, marital or family status. We particularly welcome applications from people who are Minority Ethnic as they are currently underrepresented in the Crick at this level.

Diversity is essential to excellence in scientific endeavour. It increases breadth and perspective, leading to more innovation and creativity. We want the Crick to be a place where everyone feels valued and where diversity is celebrated and seen as part of the foundation for our Institute’s success.

The Crick is committed to creating equality of opportunity and promoting diversity and inclusivity. We all share in the responsibility to actively promote dignity, respect, inclusivity and equal treatment and it is our aim to ensure that these principles are reflected and implemented in all strategies, policies and practices.

Read more on our website: https://www.crick.ac.uk/careers-and-study/life-at-the-crick/equality-diversity-and-inclusion