Research Assistant in VLP Vaccine Optimisation

Are you an early career researcher looking for your first challenge?  Do you have a background in virology or vaccines?  Do you want to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research intensive Universities?

Successful poliovirus vaccination has made the prospect of global eradication possible. However, these vaccines come with risks of reintroduction into naive populations. Therefore, novel vaccines without this risk are essential for successful eradication. One alternative is a vaccine based on virus-like particles (VLPs), where the virus capsid proteins are expressed without infectious genetic material. We have been using the yeast Pichia pastoris to express poliovirus VLPs. This expression system is used within industrial settings with high yields, low costs and scalability (Sherry et al, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1128/mSphere.00838-19; Sherry et al, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.05.13.593909). This is of particular importance as future poliovirus vaccines must be accessible for low-and middle-income countries. This project builds on this work, with a focus on alternative yeast strains and optimisation of expression conditions to improve yield. 

This project is an opportunity for a motivated applicant to work as part of an established team (funded by the World Health Organisation and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) at the university alongside international industrial collaborators. This 6 month position is funded by an internal impact acceleration award to drive our research forward. 

What we offer in return:

• 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year! 
• Generous pension scheme plus life assurance– the University contributes 14.5% of salary 
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls. 
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

And much more!

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact: 

Dr Jess Swanson | Email:  j.j.swanson@leeds.ac.uk

or 

Dr Emma Wroblewski | Email: e.l.wroblewski@leeds.ac.uk

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