Based at Guy’s Hospital, the Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine provides a hub for cutting-edge research into stem cells, immunology, and regenerative medicine at King’s College London, in close partnership with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust as part of King’s Health Partners. 

 

Within this environment, the Immune–Epithelial Interactions Laboratory investigates how immune cells communicate with epithelial and stromal compartments to orchestrate organ development, tissue repair, and tumour progression. Our research spans fundamental mechanisms of neonatal organogenesis through to translational insights in regenerative disease and cancer. By combining in vivo transgenics, cancer models, multi-parameter flow cytometry, single-cell transcriptomics, and advanced imaging, we aim to uncover how regulatory T cells and other specialised immune populations shape tissue health and regeneration. 

The post holder will support the research undertaken by the Immune–Epithelial Interactions Laboratory, based in the Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine at the Guy’s Hospital campus. The group’s work focuses on uncovering how specialised immune cells, particularly regulatory T cells (Tregs), interact with epithelial and stromal compartments to direct tissue development, repair, and cancer progression.

 

The aim of this project is to investigate how Tregs regulate neonatal lung and skin organogenesis, adult tissue homeostasis, and tumour-associated remodelling. The successful applicant will employ a combination of sophisticated in vivo transgenic models, cancer models, multi-parameter flow cytometry, single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing, and advanced immunofluorescence imaging. These approaches will be used to dissect the molecular and cellular pathways by which Tregs control epithelial stem cell behaviour and tissue regeneration. Ultimately, this work will provide fundamental insights into immune–stem cell crosstalk and may inform therapeutic strategies in regenerative medicine and cancer immunology.

 

The post holder will report to Dr Niwa Ali, Principal Investigator of the Immune–Epithelial Interactions Laboratory, and will work closely with collaborators across King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. Applicants must hold a PhD in immunology, developmental biology, or a closely related discipline, with strong experience in experimental mouse models, flow cytometry, and transcriptomic analysis. The successful candidate will be highly motivated and enthusiastic, with an excellent academic track record, good communication skills, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

 

This is a part-time post (20 hours per week) and you will be offered a fixed-term contract until 1st August 2026. This position requires part-time on-site work.

 

Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the  Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the  Centre for Research Staff Development for more information.