Structure Biologist/Protein Scientist/Team Leader

STRUCTURE BIOLOGIST/PROTEIN SCIENTIST/TEAM LEADER
We are looking for a high quality protein scientist to run a team examining T-cell antigens and the receptors that recognise them. Interest in this important area of research is burgeoning as it becomes apparent that the T-cell receptor can recognise far more than peptide-MHC molecules (1). This receptor is believed to be the root cause of all autoimmune disease due to its inherent binding degeneracy (2) and can be exploited in both gene therapy (3) and soluble molecule (4) approaches to immunotherapy

The ideal candidate will have knowledge of protein expression, refolding, biophysics and protein crystallography and have ambitions of running their own research grouping. You should have a good CV and strong publication record. Early career postdocs with good CVs will be considered for fast tracking. We are especially keen to find an individual who can write as we have ~50 protein structure that we need to publish. The successful candidate could help clear this backlog and co-author the resultant publications. We will also encourage, and support, the right candidate to secure an independent fellowship and to establish their own research grouping within 5 years.

THE RESEARCH GROUP: The Sewell group (www.tcells.org) works on all aspects of T-cell biology (immunity to infection, autoimmune disease, transplant tolerance and cancer immunotherapy) and has current research funding in excess of £6 million. Our group maintains strong links with industrial partners who deliver immunotherapies to patients in clinical trials (e.g. Immunocore Ltd and Adaptimmune Ltd) and also to Immudex who specialise in T-cell detection technologies.

PREVIOUS POSTDOCS: The group relocated to Cardiff in 2007. Since then two of its postdocs, Linda Wooldridge and John Miles have been appointed as full professors (in Bristol and Queensland respectively). Wooldridge and Miles and all other postdocs the group has had 2007-2014 (Dave Cole, Anna Bulek, John Bridgeman, Mai Ping Tan and Bruno Laugel) have gone on to secure their own independent fellowships. Dr. Cole is currently a Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellow and we hope that he will make the jump to a Senior Fellowship within the next two years. Examination of the publication record of Wooldridge, Miles and Cole will provide an idea of the type of high impact CV that those in this post can aspire to.

For further information on the post and to gain an assessment of your suitability please contact Prof. Sewell sewellak[at]Cardiff.ac.uk We are flexible on start date. Knowledge of T-cells and TCRs is not an essential requirement and we will consider individuals with strong CVs that wish to switch fields.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE LABORATORY AND CARDIFF SEE THE LINKS BELOW:
Prof Andrew Sewell, Cardiff University (http://www.tcells.org/scientific/andysewell/)
The Institute of Infection and Immunity: http://medicine.cf.ac.uk/infect-immun/
Students in the Institute: http://medicine.cf.ac.uk/infect-immun/pgr/
South Wales Immunology Group: https://www.immunology.org/south-wales
Why you should visit South Wales: https://www.immunology.org/south-wales/life
Cardiff Ranked 5th in the UK for research excellence: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/research/impact-and-innovation/quality-and-performance/ref-2014


REFERENCES
1. http://www.tcells.org/scientific/downloads/153_Attaf_CEI_2015.pdf
2. http://www.tcells.org/scientific/downloads/121_Sewell_NRI_2012.pdf
3. http://www.tcells.org/scientific/downloads/91_Varelarohena_NMed_2008.pdf
4. http://www.tcells.org/scientific/downloads/117_Liddy_Nature_2011.pdf