Research Fellow - Department of Inflammation and Ageing - 106152 - Grade 7

Birmingham, England, United Kingdom

8/5/2025

Job Description

Position Details

Department of Inflammation and Ageing, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,130 to £45,413 with potential progression once in post to £48,149

Grade: 7

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to August 2029

Closing date: 2nd September 2025

Background

The Medical Research Council (MRC) has recently funded a Four-year, £1.5M cohort study, that is studying the impact of e-cigarettes on immune and epithelial cells within the lungs of smokers trying to quit using e-cigarettes.

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide, and a risk factor for many diseases. With an ageing population, the profound economic and health burden of smoking-related disease continues to increase. E-cigarettes are an effective, NICE recommended smoking cessation tool yet the long-term effects of vaping remain uncertain. Our short-term exposure studies have shown the deleterious effects of e-cigarette exposure on innate immune cell function (neutrophils, alveolar macrophages), suggesting potential harm from chronic exposure.

This project aims to address this knowledge gap by recruiting a cohort of healthy smokers aiming to quit smoking using e-cigarettes, to provide critical data needed to determine safety and to inform personal choice, public debate, and policy. This longitudinal cohort study will evaluate accumulation of toxins in the airways, changes in epithelial and innate immune cell functions during smoking cessation, by combining a multi-omic approach with whole-cell effector functions and characterise changes in the respiratory microbiome.

This post will require the Research Fellow to work closely with clinical scientists to deliver this cohort study within the laboratory of Dr Aaron Scott. The Research Fellow will contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking a specified range of activities within this research project.

Role Summary

• Work within specified research grants and projects, specifically an ongoing research project that is investigating how immune cells are change after smoking cessation and how they are affected by continued exposure to e-cigarettes.
• Operate within area of specialism, specifically supporting the work undertaken by Dr Scott that is investigating the impact of the exposome (smoke, e-cigarette vapour, pollution) on respiratory immune health.
• Integrate with clinical team to deliver a patient cohort study, including appropriate record keeping.
• Analyse and interpret research findings and results.
• Contribute to public understanding of the discipline.
• Contribute to generating funding
  
  

Main Duties

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required.
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding.
• Ex vivo analysis of immune cells isolated from blood or Bronchoalveolar lavage samples – phenotypic, functional and molecular biology assays.
• Analyse and interpret data.
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding.
• Disseminate research findings in the form of publications and at research seminars.
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline.
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods.
• Undertake management/administration arising from research.
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration.
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader.
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation and literature reviews.
• Present research outputs, by drafting academic publications or parts thereof, and attending seminars for oral/poster presentations.
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research.
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines.
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
  
  

Person Specification

• First degree in area of specialism (life sciences) and a PhD (or near to completion) relevant to research area (immunology).
• Expertise in flowcytometry and/or fluorescent microscopy.
• High level of analytical capability, especially in the understanding and analysis of large data sets such as transcriptomic, proteomic or metabolomic data sets.
• Experience in immune cell isolation, cell culture, metabolic assays, ELISA’s, RNA and DNA isolation, Western blotting and flow cytometry is essential.
• Experience in working with clinical samples.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly.
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones. Broadly speaking, this will encompass flow cytometry-based methods, metabolic assays, analysis and interpretation of omics data sets.
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively.
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes, especially related to clinical trial management.
  
  

Further particulars can be found here

Informal enquiries to Aaron Scott, email: [email protected]

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website .