Research Assistant/Associate in Microbiome and Reproduction - Strand, London, WC2R 2LSAbout UsThe School of Life Course & Population Sciences is one of six Schools that make up the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine at King’s College London. The School unites over 300 experts in women and children’s health, nutritional sciences, population health and the molecular genetics of human disease. Our research links the causes of common health problems to life’s landmark stages, treating life, disease and healthcare as a continuum. We are interdisciplinary by nature, and this innovative approach works: 91 per cent of our research submitted to the Subjects Allied to Medicine (Pharmacy, Nutritional Sciences and Women's Health cluster) for REF was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent. We use this expertise to teach the next generation of health professionals and research scientists. Based across Guy’s, St Thomas’ and Waterloo campuses, King’s Denmark Hill, our academic programme of teaching, research and clinical practice is embedded across five Departments.More information: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/slcpsAbout the roleWe are looking for a skilled biomedical scientist with a strong interest in the human microbiome, clinical test development and have proven relevant microbiology/sequencing and bioinformatics skills. An interest in reproduction and pregnancy is desirable. The post holder will be responsible for optimising protocols for rapid testing of the reproductive tract microbiome and developing a bioinformatics workflow for data generated using an Oxford Nanopore Technology platform. The post holder will be supported by an experienced bioinformatician members of the Clinical Diagnostics Development Team based at Guy’s Campus. They will work with existing human samples and alongside members of Professor Tribe’s and Dr Rocio Martinez Nunez’s labs, The Hub for Applied Bioinformatics (Dr Alessandra Vigilante) and the clinical preterm birth team based at St Thomas’ Hospital. The postholder will need to be methodological, organised and efficient with proven experience of working within a relevant lab setting and generation of results at a conference or via a peer reviewed publication. They will also have excellent communication skills and the ability to work with multiple teams seamlessly. This is a full-time post (35 hours per week) and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 31 May 2027. The postholder will be expected to be on site as this is a lab-based role.