Job title / Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Malaria Vaccine Development
Division / Medical Sciences
Department / Centre for Cellular and Molecular Physiology
Location / Jenner Institute, Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7BN
Grade and salary / Grade 7:Salary in the range £31,076 – £33,943 per annum
Hours / Full time
Contract type / Fixed-term until 28th February 2018, with possibility of extension
Reporting to / Professor Arturo Reyes-Sandoval
Vacancy reference / 126929
Additional information / Funding provided by the Medical Research Council
The role
Background
TheJenner Institute was founded in November 2005 to develop innovative vaccines against major global diseases. It focuses on diseases of both, humans and livestock and develops new vaccine approaches in parallel in different species. A major theme is translational research involving the rapid early-stage development and assessment of new vaccines in clinical trials.
Prof Arturo Reyes-Sandoval’s group (Dengue and vivax malaria vaccine development) is conducting research on vaccine development for malaria (Plasmodium vivax), Zika, Chikungunya, Dengue and Chagas disease (http://www.ndm.ox.ac.uk/principal-investigators/researcher/arturo-reyes-sandoval). These vaccines are under various stages of development, ranging from early design and pre-clinical testing to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) production and close to being tested in Phase-I clinical trials.
Prof. Reyes-Sandoval has recently been awarded funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC) to develop and translate a new vaccine for malaria, caused by P. vivax. The main goal of this project is to develop a GMP batch of a pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine to be tested in clinical trials. The vaccine is based on a Virus-Like Particle (VLP) platform produced in Pichia yeast and knowledge on production and purification of this vaccine and other proteins would be highly desirable.
Overview of the role
You will work on the development of a Plasmodium vivax malaria vaccine, including pre-clinical, pre-GMP and liaising with external contractors for the GMP development. This project consists on production of a VLP using the Hepatitis B Surface Antigen produced in Pichia, purification of the VLP using AKTA systems and production of additional proteins suitable for assessment of antibody responses in a future clinical trial. You will also support other projects that are reaching GMP production and clinical trial stages, as well as some at an earlier stage of pre-clinical development.
You will be required to support the Principal Investigator and other senior, junior researchers and students in the day-to-day work of this project. You will supply information to the team and project manager to support tracking progress against objectives and compiling project reports in a timely manner for efficient running of the projects.
You will work closely with Prof. Arturo Reyes-Sandoval and his team and should be highly motivated, efficient, well-organised, pro-active, and able to take initiative and to work autonomously in a fast-paced, scientific environment, whilst reporting regularly to the Principal Investigator.
Responsibilities
Technical ability (knowledge and experience)
· Apply expertise in production of Virus-Like Particles (VLP), in particular a Hep B Surface Antigen (HepBSAg) VLP using the Pichia yeast system
· Purify VLPs using gel filtration or size exclusion or affinity chromatography in AKTA protein purification systems.
· Produce and purify proteins suitable for immunogenicity studies (vaccines or ELISA), using cell culture with mammalian cells (HEK-293), E. coli, Pichia yeast or Insect cells.
· Produce proteins using fermenters.
· Perform in vivo procedures and collect suitable samples to assess immune responses
· Assess immune responses using techniques such as flow cytometry, ELISPOT and ELISA following immunisation.
· Use molecular biology techniques such as the use of restriction enzymes to clone new transgenes into plasmids.
· Participate in the design of new vaccine candidates in the form of proteins and transgenes to be used in recombinant viral vectors.
· Be responsible for maintaining cells in cell culture and cryopreservation of cells and tissue samples.
· Present results clearly, interpret them, and communicate them to other members of the team.
· Be responsible, with others, for the daily housekeeping of the laboratory area and to perform any other comparable duties as may be required to ensure the efficient running of the laboratory.
· Be responsible with others for the biological safety of the laboratory.
Communicating and relating to others (oral / written)
· Communicate with the PI and other members of the group as required, ensuring that they are kept fully up to date with progress in the research project.
· Participate in and contribute directly to scientific discussions with other members of the Hill research group and collaborators on the project.
· Maintain strict confidentiality regarding research data and the nature of the research programme when interacting with any non-collaborating researchers or members of the public.
· Maintain records that would enable a researcher unconnected with the project to understand and repeat the experiments performed.
Other general responsibilities:
· Participate in the projects as part of the vaccine program of Arturo Reyes-Sandoval’s group
· Ensure good laboratory practice.
· Be accountable for their professional conduct within the project.
· Undertake such other duties as may be required from time to time that are commensurate with the grade and responsibilities of this post.
· Ensure that work in the laboratory is conducted safely and, in particular, that they undertake work using appropriate safety procedures and in the dedicated areas.
· Conduct themselves with due regard to the University Equal Opportunities and Data Protection policies.
Education and training
· Learn new laboratory techniques using ‘on-the-job’ training provided by experienced colleagues.
· Once trained your performance will be continually monitored to ensure that the required standard of accuracy and efficiency is maintained.
· Continuously broaden, deepen and consolidate technical knowledge and skill.
· Maintain accuracy and efficiency to a high standard in response to continual monitoring.
· Attend appropriate scientific seminars, training opportunities and meetings in the Institute and University.
· Participate in the education and training of other staff as necessary and appropriate.
Further responsibilities
· Act at all times in the interests of the Institute to ensure good laboratory practice.
· Be accountable for personal professional conduct within the project.
· Undertake such other duties as may be required from time to time that are commensurate with the grade and responsibilities of this post.
· Ensure that work in the laboratory is conducted safely and, in particular, that work is undertaken using appropriate safety procedures and in the dedicated areas.
· Accord due regard to the University Equal Opportunities and Data Protection policies.
· Participating in and support public engagement activities on behalf of the group and Centre (anticipated to be around 2 days per year).
All employees will have to ensure that their work in the laboratory is conducted safely at all times and, in particular, that work is undertaken following the appropriate health and safety policies and procedures for the particular area, without compromise to their own safety or that of others who may be affected.
Hazard-specific / Safety-critical duties
This job includes the following hazard-specific or safety-critical duties which will require successful pre-employment health screening through our Occupational Health Service before the successful candidate will be allowed to start work:
· Handling human blood, blood products, tissues, hazard group 2/3 pathogens
· Work with sensitisers/work requiring health surveillance
Additional security pre-employment checks
· A satisfactory Disclosure Scotland check
· University security screening (eg identity checks)
Selection criteria
Essential
· A PhD in a relevant biological subject.
· Significant proven experience in VLP production and GMP process development.
· Experience in protein production (and purification) using various systems such as HEK-293 cells, E. coli, Yeast and insect cells.
· Experience with use of fermenters to produce VLPs or proteins
· Experience of supervision and training of post-graduate students and other post-doctoral scientists.
· A keen interest in malaria or arboviruses as well as in immunology of infectious diseases.
· Prior laboratory experience in immunological techniques to assess immune responses in pre-clinical models such as flow cytometry, ELISPOT and ELISA.
· Knowledge of basic molecular biology techniques that involve the use of restriction enzymes to clone transgenes into plasmids.
· Demonstrable ability to optimise and standardize assays and to troubleshoot protocols independently.
· Able to communicate complex scientific information clearly and precisely.
· Good interpersonal skills.
Desirable
· Experience of using in vivo models and conducting experiments to assess immune responses in pre-clinical models.
· Holder of a Home Office personal licence.
· Experience with / knowledge of viruses, adenoviruses, or poxviruses.
· Experience with / knowledge of formulation of biological products, especially vaccines.
· Experience with / knowledge of protein chemistry.
· Experience of aseptic technique particularly mammalian cell culture
· Background knowledge of vaccines, vaccination and disease prevention.
About the University of Oxford
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Jenner Institute
The Jenner Institute was founded in November 2005 to develop innovative vaccines against major global diseases. Uniquely it focuses both on diseases of humans and livestock and tests new vaccine approaches in parallel in different species. A major theme is translational research involving the rapid early-stage development and assessment of new vaccines in clinical trials.
For more information please visit: department website http://www.jenner.ac.uk/
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