DIVISION OF INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
Job Description
Professor Grade: UCL Professorial Grade
Department: Institute of Immunity and Location: Royal Free Campus, Transplantation, Division of Infection London and Immunity.
Reports to: Professor Hans Stauss, Director of the Institute of Immunity and Transplantation
The Division of Infection and Immunity at University College London is seeking an innovative scientist of international standing in immunology research for a professorial appointment at the Institute of Immunity and Transplantation (IIT). The appointee is expected to bring expertise in basic and translational immunology and undertake research that provides insights into the mechanisms of human disease which informs the development of novel immunotherapy approaches.
We invite applications from outstanding investigators with a strong collaboration record and sustained high levels of research productivity. Eligible candidates should have expertise in immunology to complement extensive expertise in molecular and cellular immunology that currently exists at the IIT. We are particularly keen to attract those whose research can take advantage of the strong links between the IIT and the Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust, which provides excellent opportunities for translational immunology research relevant to human health.
Applicants will have substantial experience in teaching and education and show a commitment to providing outstanding training for students, junior scientists and clinicians.
The IIT is committed to an inclusive environment. We particularly welcome female applicants and applicants with diverse ethnic backgrounds.
This is an established position within UCL.
A competitive salary will be offered on the Professorial scale
Context The IIT is a partnership between UCL and the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and is supported by UCLPartners (UCLP). It is characterised by the relationship between i) strong basic and preclinical expertise in human immunology research and experimental models of disease, and ii) active clinical programmes with diverse and well- characterised cohorts of patients with immune-related conditions at the Royal Free. Joint working with industry facilitates scale-up and the development of new forms of cell and gene therapy for patients. A strong commitment to postgraduate education aims to produce the next generation of scientifically- and clinically-trained immunity experts.
Combining clinical and research expertise makes the IIT a world-leading centre dedicated to the in-depth study of the immunological basis of disease and the development of novel therapies.
The IIT has been developed in 2 phases. The phase I investment of £7 million has provided newly refurbished research space adjacent to clinical services within the Royal Free Hospital. The phase I opened in 2013 and currently hosts approximately 80 scientists working on the human immune system.
The phase II investment of £62 million has enabled the construction of the Pears Building to provide state-of-the-art research facilities for 200 scientists. The construction of the Pears Building started in March 2018 and has been completed in June 2021. The candidate appointed to this post will have office and laboratory space in the Pears building and join 22 group leaders who move into the new building in July/August 2021. The IIT will be one of the largest research institutes in Europe dedicated to the study of the human immune system and the development of new immunotherapies.
The IIT is part of the UCL Division of Infection and Immunity which also contains the Research Department of Infection and the Africa Health Research Institute. Each has a well-funded research strategy with defined areas of synergy and collaborative working. The joint divisional undergraduate and postgraduate education programs provide students with access to multidisciplinary training at the cutting edge of research.
The postholder will be an experienced individual with proven immunology research experience and expertise. The postholder will lead an active research program and will also deliver high quality education for undergraduate and postgraduate clinicians and scientists.
This is an important senior academic post to take forward the vision of the IIT (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/immunity- transplantation). The post holder will promote translational research by bringing immunology research expertise to provide cutting edge care for patients. This post is a strategic priority for UCL and for the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.
Main purpose of the job
▪ To lead an active research group in immunology at the IIT ▪ To contribute to the overall scientific mission of the IIT ▪ To contribute to the education and teaching activities of the IIT ▪ To actively maintain productive relationships with other investigators at the IIT to promote collaborations with other research organisations in the UK and worldwide. ▪ To contribute to scientific progress in the field as a whole by, for example, membership of expert committees editing specialist journals and refereeing funding applications
Duties and responsibilities:
Research
▪ Head an outstanding research team, which is expected to complement the programmes of other research groups hosted at the IIT. The post-holder will also apply for funding to support their future research programme. ▪ Promote the IIT objectives of excellence in translational immunology research. ▪ Develop, maintain and nurture significant, open and productive relationships with other groups at the IIT, and across the international scientific community. ▪ Regularly publish research material or produce other research outputs in a form eligible for inclusion in the Research Excellence Framework (REF). ▪ Demonstrate an ability to promote training and development of early career researchers at the IIT. ▪ Provide evidence of knowledge transfer to the broader community such as public engagement, technology transfer, social enterprise; demonstrating a commitment to maximizing the benefit of academic activities to society. ▪ Promote the aims of the Institute to the academic community, national and international funding bodies and relevant organisations. ▪ Develop productive interactions with commercial partners. ▪ Secure grant income to support all research activities and publish high quality original research in peer- reviewed journals ▪ Attract and mentor clinical and non-clinical early career researchers ▪ Contribute to academic leadership within IIT
Teaching and Training
▪ Provide high quality training and supervision of research students. ▪ Contribute to the teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate students ▪ Lead on the development of a teaching module or short course
Appraisal
The postholder will be subject to annual UCL appraisals.
Other Duties
All academic staff are expected to demonstrate their on-going commitment to academic excellence; that is, to the conduct of research, publication, teaching, enabling and other forms of knowledge transfer, at the highest levels of international achievement. For more information on UCL research standards: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/research/ref
Any other duties appropriate to the grade of the role as required by the line manager or the Division Director.
The successful candidate will be expected to meet UCL’s expectations of core behaviours, as outlined in https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/policies-advice/core-behaviours-framework.
Further information and visiting
For queries about UCL or Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, please contact Professor Hans Stauss on [email protected]. Person specification
Criteria Essential or Desirable Qualifications, experience and knowledge
Higher academic degree e.g., PhD, or evidence of an equivalent level of attainment in E research publications Knowledge and understanding of the principles of resource and budgetary Management E Track record of extensive publications in high quality peer-reviewed scientific journals and E conferences Evidence of managing research grant funding and resources effectively E Active research profile in immunology at international level with a continuing track record of E external research grant funding Evidence of promoting excellence in all areas of immunology research E Proven ability and commitment to carry out high quality original research, leading to E publication in peer-reviewed journals Experience of teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level E Evidence of recruiting and managing individual scientists effectively E Track record of external research grant funding as Principal Investigator E Skills and abilities Demonstrates initiative, problem solving and decision making E The ability to promote teamwork and motivate colleagues E Computer literate and excellent communication skills, oral and written E Able to organise and prioritise workload E Ability to communicate with colleagues within and outside the IIT E Practical experience in facilitating change E Involvement and commitment to continuing professional development E Ability to work on own initiative within an ever changing environment E Ability to represent the IIT and UCL to external audiences E Ability to work flexibly and able to undertake duties and travel to any UCL campus as E required. Training in interview and recruitment skills E
Training in appraisal skills E Personal attributes
The highest ethical and professional standards in research and education, and a flexible E attitude Positively welcoming, actively respectful, clearly communicating and visibly reassuring E Involvement in professional activities external to the workplace D Sensitivity to the needs of a multi-cultural community, including refugees E General
Commitment to UCL’s policies including Equal Opportunities and Race Equality policies E Criteria Essential or Desirable Expected to work outside of normal office hours as required. E
Maintain an awareness and observation of Fire and Health & Safety Regulations E
Awareness of the broader HE issues and the possible implications for the E Programme/Department
Appendix 1
The appointment will be made in accordance with UCL's Statutes and Regulations for Professors, Associate Professors and Teachers. Further details are available in the staff handbooks provided by UCL (available on request).
Appendix 2
University College London (UCL)
UCL (www.ucl.ac.uk) is one of the top ranking universities in the world for research in medical sciences and clinical medicine.
About the Division of Infection and Immunity and the Institute of Immunity and Transplantation
Scientists in the Division of Infection and Immunity (www.ucl.ac.uk/infection-immunity) conduct immunology, virology and microbiology research which aims to link fundamental laboratory research with the specialised clinical interests of hospital partners.
The Institute of Immunity and Transplantation (IIT) (www.ucl.ac.uk/immunity-transplantation) at the Royal Free Campus, is a state of the art research and clinical facility to promote high quality translational research for the benefit of patients locally and globally. The new Pears Building, home of the IIT, will be opening in Q1 2021. The strong clinical link between UCL and RFL provides outstanding opportunities to perform patient-focused research.
The Division is one of 6 Divisions and Institutes in the Faculty of Medical Sciences, which in turn is one of 11 faculties within the University. For more information on the structure of UCL’s academic faculties please visit: www.ucl.ac.uk/departments/faculties
UCL Life and Medical Sciences (LMS) brings together four UCL Faculties to create one of the largest and most prestigious aggregations of academics in biomedical, life and population health sciences. The School has a global reputation for teaching informed by cutting-edge research. A full profile of Life and Medical Sciences can be found at: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/school-life-medical-sciences. In 2011, LMS was restructured into four Faculties of (i) Brain Sciences (ii) Life Sciences (iii) Medical Sciences and (iv) Population Health Sciences. These structural changes have further enhanced the exceptionally strong base of research and teaching in biomedicine at UCL. In addition to its Faculties, LMS coordinates nine Research Domains (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/research/domains ), which are informal networks that bring together researchers regardless of their host Faculty. Colleagues engage in as many of the domains as are relevant to their area of research activity, encouraging interdisciplinarity across our Faculties and beyond. LMS Faculties
i. UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-sciences/) undertakes world-leading research and teaching in neurology and neural pathways, neuroscience, language, cognition, psychology and psychiatry. It takes an integrative approach to the study of mind and brain by focusing on the determinants of human perception, cognition, emotion and behaviour. We are recognised as world leaders in our fields and our work attracts staff and students from around the globe. UCL neuroscience has the highest level of ISI citations in Europe, and is ranked second worldwide (behind Harvard), in the field of neuroscience and behaviour. The Faculty and its component parts create an outstanding and vibrant environment for study and research. The Faculty of Brain Sciences comprises: • UCL Institute of Neurology (Queen Square, WC1) http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ion/ • UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience (WC1) http://www.icn.ucl.ac.uk/ • UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (Bath Street, EC1) http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioo/ • UCL Ear Institute (Gray’s Inn Road, WC1) http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ear/ • UCL Division of Psychology & Language Sciences (WC1) http://www.ucl.ac.uk/psychlangsci/ • UCL Mental Health Sciences Unit (Riding House Street, WC1) http://www.ucl.ac.uk/mentalhealthsciences/
ii. UCL Faculty of Life Sciences (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/lifesciences-faculty/homepage) was founded in October 1990 and combines the strengths of UCL’s basic biological and preclinical sciences. Some of the constituent research departments have long and distinguished histories that can be traced back to the early nineteenth century and the foundation of UCL. In January 2012 the School of Pharmacy (founded in 1842) merged with UCL to form a new division within the Faculty of Life Sciences, the UCL School of Pharmacy.
The Faculty has been associated with six Nobel Laureates. It presents an unrivalled environment for students and researchers in life science disciplines ranging from neuroscience to the biology of molecules, cells and organisms. Following the merger with the School of Pharmacy the Faculty has now extended the range of expertise and opportunities available to include drug discovery, formulation sciences and medicines use and health. Located in the heart of the UCL’s Bloomsbury campus, it provides outstanding opportunities for research-led and research- based undergraduate and postgraduate study. The Faculty is home to over 500 graduate students studying on some of the UK’s most prestigious PhD programmes.
The Faculty of Life Sciences comprises:
• UCL Division of Biosciences (incorporating the research departments of Genetics, Evolution and Environment; Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology; Structural and Molecular Biology; and Cell and Developmental Biology) https://www.ucl.ac.uk/biosciences/ • The UCL-MRC Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology http://www.ucl.ac.uk/LMCB/ • The Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit http://www.gatsby.ucl.ac.uk/ • UCL School of Pharmacy http://www.ucl.ac.uk/pharmacy iii. UCL Faculty of Medical Sciences (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/) brings together UCL Medical School and five of UCL's Divisions and Institutes, creating a powerhouse of medical science research and teaching. Staff in the Faculty undertake world-leading research and teaching in areas that range from viral oncology to connective tissue disease, and oral health. The Faculty and its component parts create an outstanding and vibrant environment for study and research. The Faculty of Medical Sciences comprises:
• UCL Medical School http://www.ucl.ac.uk/medicalschool/ • UCL Cancer Institute http://www.ucl.ac.uk/cancer/ • UCL Eastman Institute http://www.eastman.ucl.ac.uk/ • UCL Division of Infection and Immunity http://www.ucl.ac.uk/infection-immunity/ • UCL Division of Surgery and Interventional Science http://www.ucl.ac.uk/surgicalscience/ • UCL Division of Medicine http://www.ucl.ac.uk/medicine/ iv. UCL Faculty of Population Health Sciences (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/populationhealth-sciences/) brings together expertise in Child Health, Women's and Reproductive Health, Population Health, Global Health, Clinical Trials and Cardiovascular Science. Its aim is to deliver outstanding research and teaching for improved human health, and the unifying concept that informs its scholarship and educational activity is the life course.
The Faculty’s research elucidates the biological, behavioural and psychosocial processes that operate across an individual’s life, and across generations, that affect the development of disease in populations. This research informs undergraduate, postgraduate and vocational teaching.
The Faculty of Population Health Sciences comprises:
• UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ich/homepage • UCL Institute for Women’s Health http://www.instituteforwomenshealth.ucl.ac.uk/ifwh_landing • UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science http://www.ucl.ac.uk/cardiovascular/ • UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care http://www.ucl.ac.uk/iehc/ • UCL Institute of Global Health http://www.ucl.ac.uk/igh • UCL Institute of Clinical Trials Methodology http://www.ctu.mrc.ac.uk/ The Institutes represent each life-stage, from conception, birth, childhood, adolescence into adulthood, older age and death, and comprehensively address all these phases and periods, and the health variations associated with them at a population level. The Faculty also undertakes studies that inform the development of services, interventions and policies that address health disparities that occur as a consequence of exposures throughout the life course.
Office of the Vice-Provost (Health)
The Office of the Vice Provost (Health) is responsible for the external relationships in biomedicine both with NHS partners, including UCL Partners, other health care trusts and NHS London, and with a range of medical research organisations. www.ucl.ac.uk/school-life-medical-sciences/about-slms/office-vice-provost-health
UCL Partners
In 2008, a new academic health science partnership – known as UCL Partners (UCLP) – was formed, supporting over 3,500 scientists, senior researchers and consultants, with a combined annual turnover of around £2 billion. By pooling resources and expertise, UCL Partners, which together treats over 1.5 million patients every year, will be able to produce more world-class research in key areas, including cancer and heart disease, and deliver the benefits more rapidly to patients.
UCLP comprises five of London’s biggest and best known hospitals and research centres: • UCL (University College London) • Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust (GOSH) • Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust • Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust • University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
An exciting addition to the UCL environment is the Francis Crick Institute, a partnership between UCL, the Medical Research Council (MRC), Cancer Research UK, the Wellcome Trust, King’s College London and Imperial College London. Since 2015, the Institute is a leading centre of biomedical research, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to the biology of human health and disease.
The state-of-the-art facility occupies a site next to London’s St Pancras station, a few minutes’ walk from UCL’s main Bloomsbury campus, UCL Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Queen’s Square. The facility houses ~1,250 scientists, including existing staff from Cancer Research UK’s London Research Institute and the MRC’s National Institute for Medical Research.
UCL will be seconding staff to the Institute. Selection for secondment will be undertaken in partnership with the Director of the Francis Crick Institute and will be based on scientific excellence and fit with UCL’s strategic aims, to maximise the Institute’s potential for innovation and for translation of discoveries into patient benefit. It is also likely that UCL will host staff from the Francis Crick Institute in complementary areas of science, creating further opportunities for UCL staff to relate to this exciting development.
Read about The Francis Crick Institute at: http://www.crick.ac.uk.
Appendix 3
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (RFLNFT)
The Royal Free is a pioneering organisation that was founded in 1828 by William Marsden to provide free healthcare to those who could not afford medical treatment. It was the first hospital to provide care free of charge and the only hospital to remain open during the 19th century cholera epidemics. In April 1991 the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust became one of the first NHS trusts established under the provisions of the NHS and Community Care Act 1990. On 1 April 2012 the trust was authorised as a foundation trust, under the name Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. In 2014, Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital joined our foundation trust.
The Trust has remained at the forefront and led in improvements in healthcare from targeted cancer therapies to novel surgical techniques. We offer an exceptionally wide range of routine and specialist services including solid organ transplant, HIV medicine, renal, urology, plastic and vascular surgery, haemophilia, primary immunodeficiency and infectious diseases (including High-Consequence Infectious Diseases).
Across our three London hospitals, our vision is clear: to deliver world class expertise and local care. We combine globally recognised clinical expertise with local and friendly hospital care to represent the NHS at its best. Our mission is to be world class in terms of healthcare treatment, clinical research and teaching excellence. We aim to deliver and develop leading local healthcare in all three of our hospitals, to improve lives and help people thrive.
How the Royal Free will achieve its mission We will achieve our mission by making sure that we have: • Excellent outcomes, in our clinical treatment, research and teaching • Excellent experiences for patients, staff and GPs • Excellent value, by improving the efficiency and productivity of our services, and reducing costs • Full compliance, meeting or exceeding all regulatory standards and outcomes we are set • A strong organisation, investing effectively in our staff and infrastructure to make sure we are fit for future challenges
How the Royal Free measures its performance In order to meet our aims, we want to ensure that our three London hospitals are in the top 10% of all healthcare providers for: • quality of clinics and treatments • medical research • teaching and training new medical staff • patient satisfaction and experience • value for money
Organisation There are six clinical divisions each led by a clinical divisional director supported by a team of clinical directors, a director of operations and a nurse director. The divisions are:
- Group Clinical Services - Hospital Management Unit - Medicine and Urgent Care - Surgery and Associated Services - Transplantation and Specialist Services (TASS) - Women and Children
Research and teaching at the Royal Free The Royal Free campus is one of UCL’s main teaching and research sites. The Royal Free is a member Trust of UCL Partners, which harnesses cutting-edge research and innovation by bring together world-leading academic and clinical research centres, NHS organisations and industry. Research and development is a major component of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust strategy and reflects the Trust’s desire to maintain its position as one of the top ten trusts for R&D income in the UK.