University of Southampton
Southampton, United Kingdom

General Description
An exciting opportunity is available for a Research Fellow to join a multidisciplinary research programme within the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton. This position is part of a Blood Cancer UK-funded project focused on developing next-generation, off-the-shelf immunotherapies for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), an aggressive cancer with poor survival outcomes.

The successful candidate will contribute to a three-year research programme harnessing cytotoxic invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells for precision targeting of AML. The role integrates mechanistic and translational immunology approaches, leveraging advanced in vivo models and cutting-edge technologies to identify and exploit therapeutically relevant immune cell subsets.

The Research Fellow will lead studies on cytotoxic T cell mechanisms, optimize and evaluate CAR-T and CAR-iNKT platforms, and oversee preclinical validation efforts. The position involves close collaboration with leading researchers and laboratories, including those of Dr Salah Mansour, Dr Ali Roghanian, and Dr Andres Vallejo, as well as interdisciplinary teams spanning immunology and bioinformatics.

Key responsibilities include designing and conducting in vitro and in vivo immunology experiments, coordinating with collaborators and core facilities, presenting findings at national and international conferences, publishing research outcomes, contributing to grant applications, and supervising junior researchers and students. The role also requires maintaining accurate records and supporting the broader research programme objectives.

Eligibility Criteria

• PhD (or near completion) in human T cell immunology, cancer biology, or a closely related discipline
• Demonstrated experience in immunological research and experimental design
• Ability to manage research projects independently and collaboratively
• Experience supervising or mentoring junior researchers or students

Required Expertise/Skills

• Strong practical experience in immunological assays such as flow cytometry (FACS), ELISA, and T cell-based assays
• Experience working with mouse models of cancer
• Proven ability to design, execute, and analyze complex experiments
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Ability to coordinate across multidisciplinary teams and research facilities

Desirable Skills:

• Experience with single-cell or bulk sequencing technologies (e.g., 10X Genomics, RNA-seq)
• Familiarity with bioinformatics tools and large dataset analysis
• Experience in human T cell engineering or viral transduction techniques
• Home Office Personal Licence (or willingness to obtain)

Salary Details
£36,636 to £44,746 per annum

Application Deadline
31 January 2026

Application Link

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