Job Description
Main Activities and Responsibilities
Knowledge Generation
To undertake high quality research and scholarship, including contributing to drafting major grant proposals and/or leading on drafting small grant proposals, and evaluating teaching practice.
To contribute to peer-reviewed publications and other outputs, including as lead author.
To make a contribution to doctoral student supervision, as appropriate to qualifications and experience.
To manage small grants or elements of larger grants, ensuring compliance with good practice in relation to the conduct of research, the ethics policy and other relevant LSHTM policies.
Support the development and refinement of serological (and molecular) laboratory assays and associated quality control analysis.
Support laboratory aspects of malaria and multi-pathogen studies including SOP development, assay training with collaborators, and analysis.
Support integration of outputs of multi-disease serology studies, including analysis and write-up.
Support serology projects on malaria and other infectious diseases as required including development of assays for new pathogen targets.
Carry out recombinant protein production to support serology projects.
Education
To contribute to the delivery of high quality, inclusive, research-informed teaching and assessment in relation to your specific subject and within the broader area covered by your department and disciplinary field.
To contribute to the improvement of the quality of LSHTM’s education by participating in the development of new and updated learning and teaching materials or approaches.
Support students in the inception and conduct of laboratory-based projects.
Internal Contribution
To undertake activities that support the Department, Faculty, MRC Unit or LSHTM.
To reflect LSHTM’s EDI goals in your work and behaviour.
To participate in LSHTM’s PDR process.
To engage with decision-making processes in relation to the running of laboratories and research, including shipping tendering process, ethics committees, lab sustainability, and human tissue users.
External Contribution
To demonstrate good external citizenship by contributing to learned society/conference events, journal and grant reviews.
Support visiting scientists in developing laboratory and data analytical skills.
Travel to collaborating labs to deliver training and support serological studies.
Professional Development and Training
To keep up to date with the latest research and thinking in your academic field and with changes to pedagogic practice within LSHTM and more generally.
Where the length and nature of the position permits, to apply for and, if accepted, undertake a doctoral degree if not already acquired.
To undertake and successfully complete the mandatory training required by LSHTM as appropriate to the role.
Understand procurement and shipping procedures.
General
All academic staff are free within the law to question and test received wisdom and put forward new ideas and controversial or unpopular opinions to enable LSHTM to engage in research and promote learning to the highest possible standards.
All staff at LSHTM are also expected to act at all times in LSHTM’s best interests, treat staff, students and visitors with courtesy and respect at all times, comply fully with LSHTM policies, procedures and administrative processes relevant to the role, including when acting as Principal Investigator, accepting academic, managerial, financing, and ethical responsibility for a project, uphold and support LSHTM’s values as set out in the LSHTM Strategy, act as ambassadors for LSHTM when hosting visitors or attending external events, and participate and contribute to group, departmental, and faculty dissemination events.
Academic Expectations
All academic roles have a statement of academic expectations attached to each level. Role descriptions should be regularly reviewed to ensure they are an accurate representation of the role.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
A postgraduate degree, ideally a doctoral degree, in a relevant topic such as biology, immunology or diagnostics.
Relevant experience and expertise in laboratory assay development, particularly in serological and multiplex assays in malaria, vaccine-preventable, or other infectious diseases.
Contributions to written output, preferably peer-reviewed, as expected by the subject area/discipline in terms of types and volume of outputs.
Proven ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively as part of a research team, and proven ability to meet research deadlines.
Evidence of excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Evidence of good organizational skills, including effective time management.
Demonstrable experience in assay development and refinement including quality control and quality assurance.
Experience of laboratory project management, including development of SOPs and transfer of consumables and specimens.
Willingness to travel outside the UK several times a year.
Desirable Criteria
Some experience of contributing to research grant applications.
Some experience of teaching, supervision, and assessment.
Experience in recombinant protein production and/or development of molecular assays.
Salary and Conditions of Appointment
The post is fixed term until 08 September 2028 and full-time, 35 hours per week, 1.0 FTE.
The post is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and is available from March 2026.
The salary will be on the LSHTM salary scale, Grade 6 in the range £45,728 - £51,872 per annum pro rata, inclusive of London Weighting.
The post will be subject to the LSHTM terms and conditions of service. Annual leave entitlement is 30 working days per year, pro rata for part-time staff, in addition to discretionary Wellbeing Days. Membership of the Pension Scheme is available.
LSHTM operates a Hybrid Working Framework which enables teams to work more flexibly where the role allows. Roles based in London are required to work on-site a minimum of two days per week.
Deadline: 15 Mar 2026
