Research Assistant in Intestinal Organ-on-Chip Systems
Job Type: Full-Time.
Starting Salary: 43863 – 47223 per annum + 43863 plus benefits
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About the role
We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Research Assistant to join our interdisciplinary team working on advanced gut-on-chip and liver-on-chip technologies to understand the pharmacology of microbial bioactive metabolites at Imperial’s Division of Systems Medicine, Imperial-CNRS International Research Lab on Multiscale Metabolism and the Imperial Organoid Facility.
This position, funded by MRC, offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of cutting-edge microphysiological systems that model the human intestine and hepatic environments and their pharmacological interactions with diet, microbes and metabolic health and diseases.
You should have an MSc degree in cell biology, biomedicine or biotechnology, and existing experience in organoid culture techniques and microfluidic or organ-on-chip technologies. Also, you should have demonstrated knowledge in epithelial physiology and/or liver biology. If you also have a creative approach to problem-solving, and the ability to work across two labs at the Division of Systems Medicine and the Imperial Organoid Facility/Centre for Intestinal Systems. You will contribute to integrate organoid cultures, microfluidic devices, and immune or microbial co-cultures to study intestinal/hepatic function and disease mechanisms. The post will be ideal for someone eager to apply engineering-inspired biological models to translational research and precision medicine.
What you would be doing
- Prepare and maintain human intestinal and hepatic organoid cultures and assist in their integration into microfluidic “gut-on-chip” and “liver-on-chip” systems.
- Perform cell seeding, culture monitoring, and troubleshooting of chip-based experiments.
- Contribute to experimental design, data acquisition, and quantitative analysis (e.g., imaging, metabolic assays, gene expression, metabolomics).
- Support the setup and maintenance of chip equipment (e.g., perfusion systems, imaging platforms).
- Assist in data presentation, report preparation, and manuscript drafting.
- Collaborate closely with academic, clinical, and industrial partners within the Department, Imperial-CNRS “Antoine Lavoisier” International Research Lab on Multiscale Metabolism Imperial Organoid Facility and the NIHR BRC network and Microbiome Network.
What we are looking for
- A strong interest in working with advanced in vitro models, including human intestinal/liver organoids and microfluidic organ-on-chip systems.
- Fundamental cell culture skills, with the ability to learn specialised techniques such as organoid maintenance and chip handling.
- Ability to monitor experiments carefully, identify problems early, and contribute to troubleshooting in a structured and logical way.
- Experience (or enthusiasm to develop skills) in microscopy, metabolomics or molecular assays, and quantitative data analysis.
- Good organisational skills and attention to detail, particularly in maintaining equipment, documenting experiments, and supporting laboratory operations.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to contribute to data presentations, written reports, and collaborative discussions.
- A collaborative mindset and willingness to work closely with academic, clinical, and industrial partners across the Imperial Organoid Facility and NIHR BRC network.
What we can offer you
- The opportunity to work at a world-leading research institution, contributing to pioneering technologies shaping the future of human health.
- Access to state-of-the-art organoid and chip platforms, mentorship from experts in translational gut biology, and collaborations with clinical and industrial partners.
- Career development through Imperial’s dedicated researcher training and progression support.
- A sector-leading remuneration package, including 39 days of annual leave and generous pension schemes.
- A vibrant, inclusive and collaborative research environment committed to your wellbeing and professional growth.
Further information
This is a full-time post (35 hours per week), fixed term role (9 months) based at our Hammersmith Campus.
If you require any further details about the role, please contact to Prof. Marc-Emmanuel Dumas at m.dumas@imperial.ac.uk and Tamas Korcsmaros t.korcsmaros@imperial.ac.uk .
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