Postdoctoral Research Associate (Gene Editing)

About us

The School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences (SCMMS) is one of six schools in the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine (FoLSM) at King College London. The School drives translation of world-leading basic science into advances in clinical practice in cardiac, vascular, and metabolic medicine. The School also hosts activities of the MRC/BHF Centre of Excellence for Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics (REACT) and the BHF Centre of Research Excellence at King's.

About the role

Applications are invited for a talented and enthusiastic postdoctoral scientist to join Prof Mauro Giacca's laboratory at the School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences at King's College London. The post holder will be part of a vibrant multi-disciplinary research group operating across different research themes in cardiac biology, with the specific aim to develop technologies for gene editing of cardiovascular inherited conditions.

In particular, the post-holder will develop CRISPR/Cas9- and Prime Editing-based methods for the corrections of DNA mutations leading to cardiomyopathy. This work will be performed in primary cardiomyocytes from human iPS cells, human myocardial slices from patients, and humanised mouse models with the same mutations as patients, all of which are currently available in the laboratory.

Minimum qualifications
PhD and/or MD with expertise in molecular and cellular biology and prior experience in gene editing. Candidates should be highly motivated individuals with excellent communication skills and have the ability to work independently. The post holder will have the opportunity to write and publish results of research studies in high impact score peer-reviewed journals and report research results at international conferences.

The post is based within the School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences at the James Black Centre (King's Denmark Hill campus) as part of the King's College London BHF Centre of Research Excellence and the MRC/BHF Centre for Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics (REACT). The School and these Centres provide an outstanding multidisciplinary environment with state-of-the-art equipment, facilities, and technical support for both laboratory work and animal studies.

This is a full-time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed-term contract for 2 years.

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1. PhD in relevant biological sciences and/or MD
2. Strong expertise in cellular and molecular biology
3. Past experience in gene editing work
4. Self-motivated, ability to work independently
5. Commitment to continuing personal and professional development
6. Willing and able to work in a team
7. Flexible/able to respond to change in a current professional context

* Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting the award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances, the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Desirable criteria

1. Experience in animal models of cardiovascular disease
2. Experience in tissue and organ handling and processing, including histological analysis
3. Knowledge in cardiovascular medicine

Further information

This post is subject to Occupational Health clearances.

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's. We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert.