Postdoctoral Researcher – Medicine, Irish Centre for Genetic Lung Disease

Title: Postdoctoral Researcher

Department: Medicine, Irish Centre for Genetic Lung Disease

Tenure:  Specified Purpose up 24 months, potential to extend

Location: RCSI Clinical Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital

Reporting to: Prof Gerry McElvaney

Salary: Depending on experience, aligned to IUA scales

Start Date: October 2023

About the Royal College of Surgeons

RCSI is a community of academic, research, clinical and professional staff working collaboratively to lead the world to better health. Here, you will thrive in an innovative and inclusive atmosphere and your personal development and wellbeing will be supported. We invite you to join us to help deliver on our exciting mission “To educate, nurture and discover for the benefit of human health”. We seek candidates whose experience to date has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to the “Race Equality Action Plan 2021-2024” at RCSI. Our students come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. This makes our university stronger and ensures we hire the best talent.

For each of the last six years, RCSI has been positioned in the Top 250 of universities worldwide in the Times Higher World University Rankings. We are proud to announce that RCSI has ranked first in the world for “Good Health and Well-being” in the Times Higher Education #SDG Impact Rankings 2023.  This reflects our commitment to supporting people of all ages to live healthy lives and our work to promote the concepts of well-being and positive health. Our values of Respect, Collaboration, Scholarship and Innovation continue to unite and direct our purpose.

About Our Research

RCSI recognises that excellence in research is critical to the quality of its educational activities, its credibility, and, overall, to its mission to enhance human health. RCSI’s research strategy aims to build upon its strength in translational biomedical and clinical research to deliver transformational, high impact changes in health care. Targeting both Irish national and EU funding, along with increased collaboration with industry, is a major part of the RCSI research strategy. Forging increased collaboration between RCSI PIs and industry is of critical importance to achieving success in this area. RCSI is also committed to provide its researchers with the supports and developmental opportunities to enable them to continuously grow and support their overall career development.

Description:

An opportunity has arisen to join the lab of Prof. Gerry McElvaney in the Department of Medicine at RCSI to conduct a programme of translational research on genetic lung diseases. Our group comprises both clinicians and scientists and so provides an excellent, inclusive environment to learn both scientific and clinical aspects of respiratory conditions such as alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis, while contributing to patient-focused research. We have a strong track record of high-impact publication in journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Science Translational Medicine, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and the European Respiratory Journal. We have been funded by the Health Research Board, Science Foundation Ireland, US National Institutes of Health, US Alpha-1 Foundation, as well as investigator-led grants from industry, and we are supportive of applications for independent funding.

The primary focus of this role will be to conduct molecular and cellular analysis of epithelial and immune cells sampled from the airway to elucidate dysfunction due to chronic inflammation or intrinsic defects. Our aim is to better understand the consequences that follow chronic inflammation in the airway and those which stem from intracellular retention of misfolded variants of alpha-1 antitrypsin. To this end, we make use of traditional molecular biology techniques alongside novel approaches including spectral cytometry and super-resolution microscopy. Our group also collaborates with a number of other academic and industrial partners and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to these partnerships. This role will be based in the RCSI Education and Research Centre (ERC) at the Beaumont Hospital campus, Dublin, Ireland, where Prof McElvaney is Consultant Physician in respiratory medicine and chairperson of the Irish Alpha-1 Foundation, based at the ERC.

Specific duties:

• Plan and conduct assays of cell function and disease phenotype using patient cells, plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid including western blotting, flow cytometry, ELISA and biochemical assays.
• Explore novel and existing therapeutic approaches to mitigate cellular dysfunction.
• Contribute to training and supervision of undergraduate, MD and PhD projects.
• Analyse and interpret data and prepare reports in a timely fashion.
• Present outputs at international conferences.
• Prepare manuscripts for publication in high-ranking journals.
• Remain current with developments in the field to maintain and enhance professional expertise.

Qualifications:

• A PhD in a relevant discipline, with expertise in cell and molecular biology, demonstrated through peer-reviewed publication in respected journals. Prior experience in the study of respiratory disease is desirable.

Knowledge & Experience:

• Expertise in a range of molecular biology techniques including flow cytometry would be an advantage; experience with spectral cytometry is desirable.
• Experience handling clinical and biochemical datasets is important, with analyses of large -omic datasets being a particular strength.
• Strong organisation and project management skills are required to work across several studies including good communication skills with an ability to liaise with various stakeholders across institutions.
• Motivation to research the cellular and molecular pathogenesis of chronic respiratory conditions and insights into cell fates during chronic inflammation are advantageous.

We are all too aware that imposter syndrome and the confidence gap can sometimes stop fantastic candidates putting themselves forward, so please do submit an application — we’d love to hear from you.

Application Process

Please apply online no later than 5pm on the closing date with your CV and Cover Letter. Informal Enquiries can be directed to Prof. Gerry McElvaney at gmelvaney@rcsi.ie  Please click here to read our Recruitment and Selection Policy for Researchers.

Employee Benefits

RCSI make sure you have the resources you need to thrive by offering a wide range of benefits in areas including time away, finance, community, health, and well-being and insuring your financial future. Below are some additional benefits available to you as an RCSI employee:

• Minimum of 20 days annual leave, plus an additional 6.5 Privilege days
• Flexible/hybrid working options for colleagues across many roles
• Additional leave options incl. paid maternity leave, paternity/parental leave, study leave
• 7% Employer pension contribution
• Onsite gym €10 per/mth incl. classes and PT sessions
• Childcare support 20% discount at Giraffe
• Free eye test and annual flu vaccination
• TaxSaver commuter tickets and Bike to Work schemes
• A site sustainability team focusing on the environmental initiatives; Green Campus Initiative ’
• Competitively priced café and restaurant
• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion forums, and network groups
• Employee assistance programme with Spectrum Life
• Learning and Development training programmes incl. LinkedIn Learning for career progression
• Discounted services incl. GP visits, 10% off dental, staff parking, mobile tariffs, Group Scheme discount on numerous brands
• Sports and social club incl. yoga, Pilates, fitness classes, Zumba, running club, social evenings, Summer BBQ

Note: This job description may be subject to change to reflect the evolving requirements of the Department and RCSI. Similar vacancies that arise in the next 6 months may be filled from the pool of applicants that apply for this position.  RCSI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability or race. RCSI is committed to embedding equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) across everything we do. This ensures we can all work and learn in an environment defined by dignity and respect. Eligibility to work in Ireland is a requirement of this role, Proof of eligibility documentation will be required at a later date. Under limited and specific circumstances (research/ specialist roles) RCSI may be in a position to seek a hosting agreement and/or work permits. Employees are required to undertake 6 months service in their current role before applying for other internal opportunities, unless agreed in advance by the SMT representative