Job Description

Position Details

Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822

Grade: 7

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to October 2027

Closing date: 4th November 2026

Background

This Wellcome Trust-funded post forms part of a team of researchers using in vivo and in vitro systems to identify antibody targets and effector functions that help define how antibodies protect against infection with non-typhoidal Salmonella. The appointee will contribute through undertaking critical mechanistic studies assessing the roles of both antibody-binding and effector functions. This work will help provide insights into the development of next-generation vaccines against disease caused by invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella.

Role Summary

The successful candidate will contribute to the delivery of a programme of mechanistic immunology and vaccine research within the OptiVaNTS project. Key responsibilities will include the design and delivery of mechanistic immunology research using in vitro assays and in vivo models to investigate antibody responses to Salmonella. The role requires proven hands-on experience in key immunological and infection model techniques, enabling immediate contribution to antigen evaluation, functional analyses, and translational vaccine development within a collaborative international programme.

Main Duties

• Design and deliver mechanistic immunology studies, combining in vitro assays and in vivo models to evaluate Salmonella antigens and antibody responses, including:
• Designing and performing in vitro immunological assays (e.g. serum bactericidal and bespoke opsonophagocytic assays) to investigate antibody-mediated protection against Salmonella, including working with primary immune cells and complement systems
• Leading and supporting in vivo mouse vaccination and infection studies, including the use of genetically modified strains, to evaluate immune protection and mechanisms of action
• Conducting testing and comparative evaluation of prioritised vaccine antigens, both individually and in combination, to identify candidates with protective potential
• Generating and characterising antigen-specific antibody responses, including isotype profiling and functional assessment using immunological techniques such as ELISA and flow cytometry
• Undertaking mechanistic analyses of immune protection, integrating in vitro and in vivo data to define pathways and correlates of protective immunity and structural biology of target antigens.
• Contributing to data integration and collaborative outputs across an international consortium, including presentation of findings and participation in joint analyses
• Supporting the translation of findings into vaccine-relevant insights, contributing to the development of next-generation vaccines for iNTS disease
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadline
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Person Specification

• A first degree and a postgraduate qualification in a relevant research area (e.g. immunology, microbiology, or a related biomedical discipline), or equivalent professional experience and qualifications
• Applicants should be able to evidence a track record of and demonstrate experience of:
• Hands-on experience with cellular and humoral immunology techniques including experience of microbiological techniques with bacterial mutants, tailored SBA and OPA systems, in vivo infection models, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry with bacteria and eukaryotic cells.
• Experience in in vivo Salmonella infection models and animal experimentation
• Proven ability to design, execute, and interpret complex laboratory experiments
• Strong skills in data analysis, interpretation, and scientific communication
• Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary and international collaborations
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly

Further particulars can be found here

Informal enquiries to Lisa Powell, email: l.h.powell@bham.ac.uk

Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.