Senior Scientist
- Stevenage, Hertfordshire (GBR)
- £22 - £29 Per Hour
- 12 Months
- Start date: ASAP
- Ref: GSK0JP00095383
- cell biology
- immunology
- phd
- cells
- biology
Senior Scientist
12 months
Stevenage
Up to £29 per hour Umbrella / £22 per hour PAYE
GlaxoSmithKline is a world leading research-based pharmaceutical company that combines both individual talent and technical resources to support our mission to improve the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.
We have an exciting opportunity available for a bright and innovative immunologist to join GSK’s Immunology Research Unit in Stevenage. You will be working in a stimulating and fast-moving environment, where we put great emphasis on high quality science. You will join a group of diverse and experienced biologists focused on identifying new medicines that correct dysfunction at barrier interfaces. Immune cells like macrophages interact with epithelial cells/keratinocytes at the barrier interface and play a key role in pathogen defence and tissue homeostasis. Dysregulated macrophage function at barrier interfaces results in susceptibility to infections and inflammation which are key recurring features of chronic intestinal, airway and skin diseases.
Our role is to identify novel genetically associated targets for barrier diseases in partnership with colleagues in Human Genetics and Functional Genomics, to validate the targets using disease- and mechanism-relevant in vitro cell and tissue-based assays, and to deliver the translational biology packages that support progression of molecules from lead discovery through to early clinical development.
As a Contingency Worker with a background in immunology and cell biology, you will have the opportunity to support drug discovery programs with a focus on running established protocols as well as developing new immunological assays to interrogate target biology in monocytes/macrophages, including assessment of bacterial replication in macrophages, functional characterisation of signalling pathways and quantification of inflammatory mediators in response to infection. The selected candidate will be expected to have excellent communication and organizational skills, present results at team and project meetings, and maintain accurate experimental records.
Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Contributing to the validation, characterisation and progression of novel targets and therapeutics to treat intestinal and skin diseases associated with dysfunctional myeloid biology.
• Support ongoing target validation assays and establish novel assays to evaluate, monocyte/macrophage biology, bacterial replication in macrophages, assessment of signalling pathways and inflammatory mediators in human monocyte/macrophage based in-vitro assays.
• Maintain an active knowledge of external developments in the field and adapting/initiating work plans (internally and externally) in response to emergent data.
• Engagement and sharing expertise with wider Immunology Research Unit.
Why you?
Basic Qualifications:
We are looking for professionals with these required skills to achieve our goals:
• Science graduate with additional research experience - or new PhD in Immunology/ Cell Biology or a related discipline.
• Strong understanding of human monocyte/macrophage biology.
• Experienced with isolation of primary human monocytes, maturation of human monocytes to primary macrophages.
• Experienced in several immunological assays to support target validation (e.g. Flow cytometry, RNA expression analysis, biochemical analysis of signalling intermediates, measurement of inflammatory mediators using MSD/ELISA, imaging).
• Comprehensive expertise in experimental design, execution, assay development and analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality, consistent results in a timely fashion.
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects effectively and meet timelines successfully with the utmost attention to detail while setting high performance standards.
• Flexible, focused, enthusiastic, and highly motivated.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience working with bacterial infection models.
• Experience with running T-cell-based assays
• Experience with genetic modification of proteins in primary cells or cell lines (e.g. CRISPR-Cas9, siRNA silencing)
Why GSK?
Our values and expectations are at the heart of everything we do and form an important part of our culture.
These include Patient focus, Transparency, Respect, Integrity along with Courage, Accountability, Development, and Teamwork. As GSK focuses on our values and expectations and a culture of innovation, performance, and trust, the successful candidate will demonstrate the following capabilities:
• Operating at pace and agile decision-making – using evidence and applying judgement to balance pace, rigour and risk.
• Committed to delivering high quality results, overcoming challenges, focusing on what matters, execution.
• Continuously looking for opportunities to learn, build skills and share learning.
• Sustaining energy and well-being.
• Building strong relationships and collaboration, honest and open conversations.
• Budgeting and cost-consciousness.
At GSK, we're a company with a special purpose, to help people do more feel better and live longer. Realising our purpose starts with us. When we feel at our best, we perform at our best.
When you set out on your adventure at GSK, we make a deal. You commit to living GSK's values and expectations and performing against our Innovation, Performance and Trust priorities. And in return, GSK commits to providing the right environment for you to thrive. Put simply, it’s about you being motivated to do your best work, in a place where you can be you, feel good and keep growing.
Together we build an environment where we can all thrive and focus on what matters most to each of us. It is only through the energy, dedication, drive and passion of all of us that we can be the very best for GSK, and importantly, for our patients and consumers.
