Job Title: Postdoctoral Fellow – Vinuesa Lab
Reports to: Carola Vinuesa
Salary: From £47,500 with benefits subject to skills and experience.
Details of the role
Reporting to: Carola Vinuesa, Principal Group Leader – Assistant Research Director
Working pattern: This is a full-time, 4 year fixed term position on Crick terms and conditions of employment.
Application closing date: 2nd of June 2026 at 23.59pm
About us
The Francis Crick Institute is Europe’s largest biomedical research institute under one roof. Our world‑class scientists and staff collaborate on vital research to help prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative conditions. The Crick is a place for collaboration, innovation and exploration across many disciplines. A space where the brightest minds can pursue big and bold ideas and discover answers to crucial scientific questions. We support them in a dynamic environment which fosters excellence with state‑of‑the‑art infrastructure, cutting‑edge facilities, and a creative and curious culture.
The Research Group
Dr Vinuesa’s laboratory focuses on understanding the regulation of protective antibody responses and the mechanisms underpinning antibody‑mediated diseases. The research aims to unravel the pathogenesis of autoimmune and allergic diseases, and the processes that control the quality of antibody responses. The goal is to improve the outcomes of patients with autoimmune disorders (AID) with a particular focus on systemic autoimmune diseases like lupus.
The Project
The purpose of this role is to study the role of different triggers of TLR7 signalling including bacterial and viral infections to the onset of autoimmunity. We will take advantage of a mouse model in which we introduced a rare TLR7 gain‑of‑function variant identified in a child with severe SLE. The mouse model develops lupus‑like disease. The analysis of immune response to pathogens and self‑antigens involves detailed investigation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms.
What you will be doing
- Undertaking own research project and independently designing and performing experiments to study different triggers of TLR7 signalling including bacterial and viral infections to the onset of autoimmunity
- Mouse colony management and independently conducting in‑vivo experiments
- Conducting single cell BCRseq and clonal analysis using bioinformatic pipelines
- Scientific and technical support for group members
- Data management and analysis, writing up of manuscripts
- Presenting at scientific meetings
- Guiding PhDs in their research
About you
- PhD in Immunology or in the final stages of PhD submission
- Experience in mouse models of immunology, including mouse models of vaccination, allergy, and autoimmunity
- Experience with mouse husbandry, sample harvesting and processing
- Expertise in multiple aspects of B cell biology, including germinal center and extrafollicular responses, plasma cell biology, class switch recombination and somatic hypermutation
- Experience in BCR sequencing and clonal analysis
- Experience in mucosal immunology and mucosal B cell responses
- Excellent track record of high‑quality research as evidenced by fist author publications in referred journals
What will you receive
- Visas: Applicants for this role will be eligible for sponsorship to work in the UK
- Generous Leave: 28 days of annual leave, plus three additional days over Christmas and bank holidays
- Pension Scheme: Defined contribution pension with employer contributions of up to 16%
- Health & Well‑being: 24/7 GP consultation services, occupational health, and mental health support
- Work‑Life Balance: Back‑up care for dependents and childcare support allowance
At the Francis Crick Institute, we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to driving innovation and scientific discovery. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. We are a Disability Confident, Committed employer.
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