Research Fellow – Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy – 107844 – Grade 7

Job Description

Position Details

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

Location: 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 April 2028

Closing date: 7th September 2026

Background

To plan, perform, analyse and interpret results pertaining to a Breakthrough T1D grant exploring how NAMPT inhibitors may alter immune responses in mice that develop spontaneous autoimmune diabetes.

Role Summary

• To administer NAMPT inhibitors to mice
• To harvest tissues for immune studies (flow cytometry analysis, ELISA, cell culture) from mice
• To optimise and perform immunohistochemistry staining of pancreas sections
• To contribute to the teaching/supervision of students
• Work within specified research grants and projects
• Operate within area of specialism (immunology of Type 1 diabetes)
• To conduct translational research within the Diabetes Research group and contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University by the production of measurable outputs including bidding for funding, publishing in national academic journals and conferences, and the recruitment and supervision of postgraduate research students.
• Contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and/or public understanding of the discipline or similar

  Main Duties

  The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

  • To perform in vivo experiments in mice, including but not limited to, intravenous cell transfer and intraperitoneal injections
  • To monitor mice for development of spontaneous autoimmune diabetes.
  • To prepare cells for and perform flow cytometric analysis of harvested tissues from mice
  • To optimise and analyse immunohistochemistry staining from pancreas tissues
  • To organise and report to the collaborators on a quarterly basis, and the funders on a bi-annual basis, on the progress of the project
  • Prepare regular weekly updates to the Diabetes Research group on progress
  • Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
  • 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 and literature reviews
  • 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 deadlines
  • Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

    Person Specification

    • PhD (in submission or awarded) in an area relevant to research area or equivalent qualifications
    • Currently hold, or have held (in the last 2 years), a Home Office PIL for working with mice
    • Previous experience of successfully performing intravenous and intraperitoneal injections in mice
    • Previous experience in preparing samples for, and analysing, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry data
    • Previous use of bioinformatic/coding programmes (e.g. R) to generate figures and novel data analysis pipelines.
    • High level analytical capability
    • Ability to communicate complex information clearly
    • 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