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The latest job opportunities here at UCL Biochemical Engineering
Research Fellow in Molecular Biology and Bioprocessing of Cellular Immunotherapies
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Ref Number B04-05431
Professional Expertise Research and Research Support
Department UCL BEAMS (B04)
Location London
Working Pattern Full-time
Salary £43,124–£51,610
Contract Type Fixed-term
Working Type On-site
Available for Secondment No
Closing Date 02-Oct-2024
About us
We are recruiting a proactive, collaborative and highly motivated Research Fellow to join the Cell and Gene Therapy Bioprocessing Group at UCL and lead research in Molecular Biology and Bioprocessing of Cellular Immunotherapies. The successful candidate will be lead postdoctoral researcher as part of SMARTCell Scalable Manufacture of Advanced Regenerative Cellular Therapies project. The aim of the SMARTCell project is to establish a scalable manufacturing process for allogeneic gene-modified cellular and demonstrate consistent, multi-litre scale production for cellular immunotherapies with the goal of improving the production process and increase the quantity and quality of cell manufacture. The investment in the UCL Biochemical Engineering’s cell and gene therapy research exceeds £10m and focuses on cellular immunotherapy bioprocessing, gene delivery and gene therapy and non-viral technologies. The Research Fellow will be joining the CGTB group which comprises of >10 doctoral researchers and four postdoctoral Research Fellows. This advertised role would be an additional Research Fellow to the group and there would be the opportunity for the successful candidate to manage and lead projects and activities within the wider group. This post is funded for 2.5 years
About the role
The primary role of the Research Fellow will be to execute and lead experimental studies investigating the scale-up and production of allogeneic gene-modified cellular immunotherapies (e.g. allo CAR-T and/or CAR-NK). This will include the identifying the optimal cell source for allogeneic cellular immunotherapy manufacture, gene-editing/gene delivery for allogeneic applications and development of scalable cell culture processes. This will include investigating the role of critical process parameters and key variables that impact cell product quality and yield, and require the candidate to have a strong track record in molecular biology, experimental design and bioprocessing. The candidate will be required work independently to prepare and conduct rigorous and scientifically robust research. The role will require an awareness of current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) as required by health regulators as well as a strong understanding of the commercial and regulatory implications of the work. With respect to T and/or NK-cell bioprocessing, it is expected the candidate will be familiar with the fundamental biology and simplifying and optimising the isolation of these cells in addition to their upstream/downstream processing, characterisation and cell analysis. In addition to leading their own research plan, the role will provide significant management and industrial engagement opportunities. The Research Fellow will support the management of the CGTB Group, including support of the doctoral students and liaising with external partners.
About you
To succeed in this role you will have: • A PhD awarded (or about to be) in a relevant subject. This may include biological sciences, cell biology or immunology disciplines, biotechnology or biochemical engineering with relevance to cell culture, bioprocessing and analytics, and an interest in developing an understanding of scalable manufacture of allogeneic cellular immunotherapies. • Experience immune cell culture and analytics for cellular immunotherapy applications. • Training and experience in working in cell process development including the use of bioreactors. • Experience with cell characterisation assays including flow cytometry, ELISA, qPCR and other relevant assays for cellular immunotherapies.
Available documents
Research Fellow in Bioprocessing of Cellular Immunotherapies
(Apply here)
Ref Number B04-05432
Professional Expertise Research and Research Support
Department UCL BEAMS (B04)
Location London
Working Pattern Full time
Salary £43,124–£51,610
Contract Type Fixed-term
Working Type On site
Available for Secondment No
Closing Date 04-Oct-2024
About us
We are recruiting a proactive, collaborative and highly motivated Research Fellow to join the Cell and Gene Therapy Bioprocessing Group at UCL and lead research in Bioprocessing of Cellular Immunotherapies. The successful candidate will be lead postdoctoral researcher as part of FAST CAR-T project. The aim of the FAST CAR-T project is to establish a scalable manufacturing process for allogeneic gene-modified cellular and demonstrate consistent, multi-litre scale production for cellular immunotherapies with the goal of improving the production process and increase the quantity and quality of cell manufacture. The investment in the UCL Biochemical Engineering’s cell and gene therapy research exceeds £10m and focuses on cellular immunotherapy bioprocessing, gene delivery and gene therapy and non-viral technologies. The Research Fellow will be joining the CGTB group which comprises of >10 doctoral researchers and four postdoctoral Research Fellows. This advertised role would be an additional Research Fellow to the group and there would be the opportunity for the successful candidate to manage and lead projects and activities within the wider group. The post is funded for 2.5 years.
About the role
The Research Fellow, under the supervision of Professor Qasim Rafiq, will lead the upstream processing and biomanufacture of allogeneic cellular immunotherapies. The primary role of the Research Fellow will be to execute and lead experimental studies investigating the scale-up and production of allogeneic gene-modified cellular immunotherapies (e.g. allo CAR-T). In addition to leading their own research plan, the role will provide significant management and industrial engagement opportunities. The Research Fellow will support the management of the CGTB Group, including support of the doctoral students and liaising with external partners. As the Research Fellow on the FAST CAR-T project you will: • Devise and undertake appropriate experiments to achieve the goals and milestones as described in the research programme. This would include a significant element of independent work, e.g. in the planning and execution of experiments, and the write up of work for publication. • Interact with the researchers and investigators within the Cell and Gene Therapy Bioprocess Group at UCL and the wider UCL Biochemical Engineering department to deliver the research project and programme aims. • Write regular reports to the supervisor, compile data acquired in a form to allow rapid transformation of research results into research papers and/or patent applications.
About you
To succeed in this role you will have: • A PhD awarded (or about to be) in a relevant subject. This may include biological sciences, cell biology or immunology disciplines, biotechnology or biochemical engineering with relevance to cell culture, bioprocessing and analytics, and an interest in developing an understanding of scalable manufacture of allogeneic cellular immunotherapies. • Experience immune cell culture and analytics for cellular immunotherapy applications. • Training and experience in working in cell process development including the use of bioreactors. • Experience with cell characterisation assays including flow cytometry, ELISA, qPCR and other relevant assays for cellular immunotherapies.
Available documents
Research Fellow in Protein Nanoparticle Technology
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Ref Number B04-05428
Professional Expertise Research and Research Support
Department UCL BEAMS (B04)
Location London
Working Pattern Full time
Salary £43,124–£51,610
Contract Type Fixed-term
Working Type On site
Available for Secondment No
Closing Date 06-Oct-2024
About us
This position is a key part of the Manufacturing Research Hub for a Sustainable Future (VaxHub Sustainable), led by UCL Biochemical Engineering and the University of Oxford with academic and industrial partners. VaxHub Sustainable is funded with a £12M EPSRC grant, part of UKRI. It builds on the success of the DHSC-funded Vax-Hub 1, which played a critical role in making the UK the global centre for vaccine discovery, development and manufacture. Its research underpinned the development of the ChAdOx-1 nCoV-19 vaccine, subsequently licensed to AstraZeneca, with benefit to over 180 countries. VaxHub Sustainable’s vision is to deliver manufacturing innovations that enable a transformative change towards sustainable and rapidly responsive vaccine manufacture.
About the role
The postholder will develop a protein nanoparticle platform for the encapsulation and targeted delivery of vaccines. Building on our previous work, which demonstrated oriented antigen display on protein nanoparticles and molecule loading, we will apply these strategies to enable the generation of a protein-based delivery system for a range of target molecules. We aim to gain a deep understanding of the loading capacity, target molecule stability and fate upon delivery into cells. With this work we strive to improve stability, storage and administration of sustainable vaccine manufacturing and delivery. There will be a high degree of interaction with UCL colleagues and industrial partners so excellent team-working and communication skills will be required. The post holder will be responsible for undertaking original experimental research, reporting on project progress and the preparation and submission of research papers arising from these and related studies.
About you
You hold a PhD in a relevant discipline (e.g. Bio/Chemical Engineering) or a related area or in natural sciences reinforced with an emphasis on protein engineering and synthetic biology (e.g. Biotechnology, Biochemistry), and ideally possess experience in biochemical/biophysical analysis of protein assemblies and molecular biology techniques (e.g. cloning, in vitro RNA production). We want to give people opportunity for development and this role is one where we could consider a wide range of different skills and experiences . Whilst all candidates must meet the essential criteria in order to be shortlisted, we actively encourage candidates who may not meet all of the desirable criteria to apply as we consider these to be areas the successful candidate can grow within the role. For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Stefanie Frank at Stefanie.frank @ucl.ac.uk.
Available documents
Research Fellow in Recovery and Recycling of Yeast-Based Hydrolysates for use in Cultivated Meat Production
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Ref Number B04-05480
Professional Expertise Research and Research Support
Department UCL BEAMS (B04)
Location UCL East
Working Pattern Full time
Salary £43,124–£51,610
Contract Type Fixed-term
Working Type On site
Available for Secondment No
Closing Date 16-Oct-2024
About us
The UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) supports the £12M Cellular Agriculture Manufacturing Hub (CARMA). The Hub, led by the University of Bath, is a national centre that brings together world-leading expertise across a range of academic and industrial partners (Spokes). The focus is on enabling the transition to sustainable and responsible food production through the development of precision fermentation and cultivated meat technologies and their integration into existing food supply chains. The UCL Department of Biochemical Engineering is a key Spoke within CARMA focusing on bioprocess intensification and the recovery and recycling of nutrients between precision fermentation and cultivated meat processes. The department is one of the leading international centres for bioprocess research. It has excellent research facilities including a full-scale £30M bioprocessing pilot plant and related process analytical equipment.
About the role
This CARMA post will involve experimental work on laboratory and pilot scale membrane filtration processes for the recovery, concentration and recycling of nutrients from Yeast-based precision fermentation processes. It will also encompass significant analytical work of feed and permeate streams to analyse for nutrients, metabolites and inhibitory compounds. There will also be collaboration with CARMA colleagues on upstream fermentation processes and evaluation of recovered nutrients as cell culture media supplements. The post is available immediately for a period of 3 years and will be based in the new UCL East Manufacturing Futures Lab on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
About you
Candidates will be required to hold a PhD in a relevant discipline (Biochemical or Chemical Engineering or related subject e.g. Biotechnology, Food Technology) and possess experience in a number of the following areas: membrane process design, operation and scale-up, other downstream process operations or microbial fermentation, biochemical characterisation techniques. The post will require a high degree of interaction with project partners so excellent teamworking and communication skills are required. The post holder will be responsible for undertaking original experimental work, reporting on project progress and the preparation and submission of research papers arising from these and related studies. For informal enquiries please contact Prof. Gary Lye (g.lye@ucl.ac.uk), MFL Director and CARMA Co-Director.
Available documents
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What we offer at UCL
As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:- • 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days) • Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme • Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE) • Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan • Immigration loan • Relocation scheme for certain posts • On-Site nursery • On-site gym • Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay • Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service • Discounted medical insurance
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion here