Research Assistant; Cowan Lab

Applications are invited for a Research Assistant position to join the research team led by principal investigator, Dr Jennifer Cowan, as part of the Division of Infection and Immunity, UCL. The post is funded by a Sir Henry Dale Wellcome Trust Fellowship- ‘Controlling thymus function to improve T-cell immunity in the aged’.

The post holder will be based in the Institute of Infection, Immunity and Transplantation (IIT;  ) on the Royal Free campus, in the Pears Building. Work within the Institute aims to translate advances in the understanding of the immune system into improved therapies for patients.

The IIT brings together a critical mass of more than 25 world-class immunology research groups working at the forefront of translational immunology. Work within the IIT aims to translate advances in the understanding of the immune system to improved therapies for patients.  The Division provides an effective infrastructure for immunology/virology research and a lively and sociable environment, always striving for excellence.

Effective adaptive immunity is dependent on T-cell development in the thymus. The thymus undergoes age-related involution, leading to reduced T-cell output. This is suggested to compromise T-cell immunity and increase the risk of disease severity in the elderly. However, it is unknown whether enhancing thymic function would ameliorate the immune defects observed in the elderly. Transcriptional assessment of thymic epithelial cells (TEC) through development facilitated the generation of genetically altered mouse models in which thymic involution can be prevented or reversed.

The Cowan group will use these models to establish the contribution thymic atrophy has on underlying age-related immune defects. The position holder will explore if restoring thymic function alters peripheral T cell populations and consequently T cell responses of aging hosts when immune challenged. The project will provide an important understanding of how the thymus shape immune responses in the elderly, and inform TEC-mediated approaches of thymic regeneration to aid prevention of degeneration of T-cell immunity that accompanies aging.

The position is available from September 2026 for 5 months.

The post-holder will be expected to perform the highest quality research under the direction of Dr Jennifer Cowan. Applicants should enjoy working effectively with other group members in a newly formed, multidisciplinary team, including molecular and cellular immunologists. The successful candidate will be competent in immunology and cellular immunology techniques, including the dissection of the thymus and spleen from mice and the preparation of single cell suspensions of these tissues.

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme:
  Staff Support Service

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

Our department holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality.