Job number
NAT02037
Faculties
Faculty of Natural Sciences
Departments
Department of Life Sciences
Salary or Salary range
£43,863 - £47,223 per annum
Location/campus
South Kensington Campus - On site only
Contract type work pattern
Full time - Fixed term
Posting End Date
2 Oct 2025
About the role
The Burgess Lab is seeking a motivated and technically skilled Research Assistant in Molecular Virology to join our newly established team at Imperial College London. Our lab investigates molecular mechanisms of RNA regulation in viral infection and immunity using multiple viruses. You will contribute to projects involving coronaviruses and herpesviruses and involving host RNA regulatory and innate immune pathways.
What you would be doing
This is an opportunity for an early career researcher to develop their technical skills, contribute to publications and gain experience working in a discovery research setting.
You will have your own research projects and help support ongoing research in the lab. You will prepare virus stocks, maintain cell lines and perform gene knockdowns/knockouts and drug treatments. You will use western blotting, RT-PCR and TCID50 assays to measure effects on virus and host gene expression and replication. You will learn to isolate translationally active polysome complexes.
What we are looking for
* Skilled researcher with a Masters in a relevant subject and good knowledge of virus:host interactions
* Practical experience in a broad range of relevant laboratory techniques such as cell culture, viral replication assays, gene silencing, western blotting, RT-PCR, molecular cloning and protein:protein interaction analyses
* Ability to design and execute experiments with proper controls and interpret data
* Proactive scientist with a collaborative mindset and open approach to problem solving
* Experience of discovery research and presenting your findings.
What we can offer you
* The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and join a young team that values open discussion, collaboration, inclusion, scientific integrity and fun.
* Access to cutting-edge facilities and seminar series featuring world class scientists.
* Opportunities to attend local conferences to showcase your work and enhance your academic network.
* Access to various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.
Further information
This is a full time fixed-term position for 1 year in the first instance, with the possibility of extension. It is based at South Kensington Campus.
If you require any further details about the role, please contact: Hannah Burgess
Available documents
Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.
Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.
We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
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About Imperial
Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.
Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world's toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.
As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you'll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.
This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you'll join us at Imperial College London.
Our Culture
We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.
Our values are at the root of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.