Research Associate Fellow in Respiratory Medicine

Posting date:	14 July 2025
Salary:	£61,825.00 to £70,425.00 per year
Additional salary information:	£61825.00 - £70425.00 a year
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	28 July 2025
Location:	London, SW3 6NP
Company:	NHS Jobs
Job type:	Contract
Job reference:	C9196-25-1263

Summary

1. Job Summary The post will be jointly supervised between Dr Anand Shah and Dr Aran Singanayagam. This is a 18 month post funded by an industry collaboration to identify the molecular pathways relevant to disease pathophysiology in the chronic respiratory condition bronchiectasis. The post will use existing ethically approved research projects to obtain clinical samples including upper and lower airway samples from individuals with chronic respiratory disease with a focus on bronchiectasis. A key aspect of the project will be to expand bronchial epithelial samples to be used within multiple analysis techniques and/or assays. In particular, the cultured cells will be used to create different models of disease such air-liquid interface cultures which can be used to study responses both before and after administration of different stimuli (e.g. pathogens or inflammatory ligands) and/or candidate molecules We are aiming to recruit an enthusiastic, dynamic, and motivated postdoctoral research associate with an interest in host-pathogen interactions, who wishes to expand their research portfolio. You will join an exciting multidisciplinary group with expertise in immunology and molecular microbiology. The post holder will be required to work both individually and as a team and may be required to teach more junior members of the laboratory. You should integrate with the group with a cooperative, enthusiastic and flexible approach. Essential Requirements: PhD in immunology or equivalent vocational qualification Work independently and be competent in general lab techniques, including cell culture, qPCR, ELISA, WB, bioinformatics and data analysis. Desirable Requirements: Prior experience in epithelial cell culture including air-liquid interface and/or pulmonary organoid models Prior experience in analysis of large sequencing datasets (bulk RNA-seq) with associated competence in using R or similar analysis packages. 2. Key Relationships The postholder will be integrated into the research group led by Dr Anand Shah and Dr Aran Singanayagam with a clinical translational research role across the Royal Brompton hospital and the Centre of Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London. Selected papers from the Shah/Singanayagam lab Almond M, Farne H, K, Jackson MM, Jha A, Katsoulis O (et al)Johnston SL, Singanayagam A. Obesity dysregulates the pulmonary antiviral immune response. Nature Communications 2023. 14: 6607. George PM, Reed A, Desai S, Devaraj A, Faiez TS, (et al)Shah A, Singanayagam A. A persistent neutrophil-associated immune signature characterises post-COVID19 pulmonary sequelae. Science Translational Medicine. 2022; 14: 671 Singanayagam A, Foottit J, Marcyzynski M, Radicioni G, Cross MT et al. Airway mucins promote immunopathology in virus-exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. J Clin Invest 2022; 132: e120901. Kamal F, Kumar S, Edwards MR, Veselkov K, Belluomo I, (et al.).Singanayagam A, Hanna GB*. Virus-induced volatile organic compounds are detectable in exhaled breath during pulmonary infection. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2021. 204: 1075-85. Finney L, Glanville N, Farne H, Aniscenko J, Fenwick P, (et al.)Johnston SL, Singanayagam A. Inhaled corticosteroids downregulate the SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 in COPD through suppression of type I interferon. J Allerg Clin Immunol 2021; 147: 510-19. 3. Duties and Responsibilities To take initiatives in the planning of research To direct the work of small research teams To conduct data analysis To write reports for submission to research sponsors To present findings to colleagues and at conferences To submit publications to refereed journals To provide guidance to PhD Students To maintain highly organised and accurate record of experimental work To actively participate in the research programme of the Group To participate in Group research meetings and internal seminars To contribute to the smooth running of the Groups laboratories and, facilities with other scientists, clinicians, technicians and students within the laboratories Assist in the supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate research students and research assistants as required Any other duties as may be deemed reasonable by Head of group as well as Head of Division/Department/Section