Postdoctoral Scientist
Location: England, United Kingdom
Contract length: Fixed-Term Contract Until 31/08/2027
Salary: £38,500 - £40,000
About the Role:
The insitute is seeking an experienced postdoctoral scientist to join the Horizon Europe funded REPRODIVAC project. REPRODIVAC is a 5-year research project, which aims to develop next-generation vaccines and diagnostics to prevent and control infectious reproductive diseases of livestock of worldwide impact.
The REPRODIVAC consortium involves 15 partners from eight countries, and includes academic institutes, vaccine and diagnostics companies, and government agencies. REPRODIVAC is targeting four of the most economically important reproductive livestock diseases: ovine enzootic abortion (OEA), one of the most common infectious causes of abortion in small ruminants worldwide, caused by Chlamydia abortus; Q fever, an important and highly contagious zoonotic disease of worldwide impact, caused by Coxiella burnetii; swine brucellosis, a neglected disease with high zoonotic impact in the Americas and Asia, with the potential to reemerge in Europe, caused by Brucella suis; and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), responsible for major economic losses in the swine industry worldwide, caused by PRRS viruses (PRRSV).
REPRODIVAC is built around the following four main objectives:
- To genetically engineer a rationally attenuated B. suis vaccine and develop improved differential diagnostic tests to aid porcine brucellosis surveillance programs.
- To develop novel viral vectored vaccines designed to elicit antibodies that broadly neutralise PRRSV and an immunoassay to better measure PRRSV neutralising antibodies.
- To produce recombinant proteins to facilitate the identification and prioritisation of DIVA vaccine candidate antigens for Q fever and OEA, and companion diagnostic tests.
- To refine the manufacture of a recently developed C. abortus subcellular chlamydial outer membrane complex (COMC) vaccine and its evaluation for commercialisation, and to produce a companion molecular diagnostic test.
The post-holder will play a key role in achieving Objective 2. Working in collaboration with partners, and across inter-related work packages, to isolate antibodies that broadly neutralise PRRSV and define the epitopes they recognize. This will enable the design and evaluation of vaccines capable of providing broad protection against PRRSV and an ELISA as a surrogate test for measuring PRRSV neutralising antibodies, to better predict protection under field conditions. The post-holder will also contribute to Objective 3, by isolating C. burnetii antibodies for functional characterization and selection of vaccine and DIVA diagnostic candidate antigens.
Prof Simon Graham is the REPRODIVAC project work package leader and will line manage this post-holder.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Responsible for generation and functional characterisation of a panel of recombinant PRRSV-neutralising porcine monoclonal antibodies, which will include:
- Recombinant PRRSV glycoprotein expression and purification.
- Production of fluorescently tagged PRRSV-1 and -2 virions and recombinant glycoproteins for use as antigen-baits.
- Single PRRSV-specific B cell sorting from selected pigs.
- PCR and sequence analysis of antibody heavy and light chain genes.
- Cloning and recombinant expression of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).
- Functional characterisation of mAbs.
Responsible for working as part of a research consortium, which will include:
- Production and provision of materials (purified PRRSV, recombinant glycoproteins and mAbs) for epitope mapping studies.
- Supporting the evaluation of novel PRRSV vaccine candidates for immunogenicity and efficacy, including the participation in vaccine trials and the analysis of samples.
- Supporting the development of a neutralising antibody surrogate ELISA-based diagnostic for PRRSV.
- Isolation of C.burnetii-specific mAbs from immune sheep and goats by single B cell sorting and cloning/expression of recombinant mAbs.
- Communicating progress and data to the REPRODIVAC consortium.
- Disseminate results through writing high quality peer-reviewed manuscripts and presenting at scientific meetings.
- Developing and maintaining documentation associated with the health, safety, and biosecurity of the research to preserve a safe working environment.
- Assist with lab management (ordering, looking after equipment, sample inventories).
- Supervision and training of group members, students, and visitors, as appropriate.
This job description is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The jobholder will carry out any other duties as may be reasonably required by his/her line manager. The job description and personal specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of The Pirbright Institute.
Personal Specification
- Intellectually engaged and results driven with a clear ability to time manage between multiple projects.
- Excellent collaboration and communication skills.
- Adaptability in adjusting to changing priorities.
- Attention to detail.
- Able to problem solve and be creative in generating a solution whilst also able to perform the same activity in a consistent manner.
- Ability to drive their project independently as part of a large multiskilled team.
Essential/Desirable Requirements
Essential
- A PhD or equivalent in a relevant branch of biosciences.
- An excellent record of research productivity, relative to experience.
- Experience of recombinant protein expression and purification.
- Molecular biology experience/skills.
- Experience in immunology including flow cytometry, analysis of antibody responses e.g. ELISAs and functional assay e.g., virus neutralisation assays.
- Evidence of excellent oral and written communication skills.
Desirable
- Project management experience.
- Experience of vaccine R&D.
- Experience of working with large animals.
- Experience of working with viruses.
- Experience of working in a high biocontainment environment.
- Experience of working in international research consortia.