Research Associate

Overview

In this role you will advance anti-candidalysin therapeutics by validating and developing small molecule inhibitors. You will work across fungal pathogenesis, epithelial biology, and translational assessment, combining in vitro and in vivo models to identify viable candidates. You will contribute to safety profiling, multi- assay data integration, and preclinical validation in multidisciplinary teams. This position offers the chance to shape therapeutic strategies against candidalysin-driven disease within a leading research environment.

Responsibilities

• Validate and develop small molecule inhibitors targeting candidalysin
• Conduct mechanistic in vitro studies using oral and vaginal epithelial models
• Screen compounds across assays (LDH, cytokines, epithelial viability) and perform safety counterscreens
• Test activity against candidalysin variants from clinically relevant Candida strains
• Support compound prioritisation using potency, selectivity, and Go/No-Go criteria
• Utilise murine models of oropharyngeal and vaginal candidiasis to assess fungal burden and tissue damage
• Contribute to independent, original research and cross-disciplinary collaboration

Key requirements

• PhD in Biological/Biophysical/Pharmaceutical Sciences, Protein/Peptide Biology, Microbiology or related discipline
• Research experience in fungal biology/pathogenesis, especially Candida
• Hands-on expertise in mammalian epithelial cell culture and infection assays
• Experience with membrane biophysics and analyses (SPR, ITC, Orbit16)
• Experience with molecular, cellular and biochemical readouts of host signalling
• Experience with in vivo (mouse) infection models or willingness to work with murine models
• Strong computational, statistical and data-analysis skills
• Excellent organisational, communication and teamwork skills

• teamwork
• communication
• organizational skills
• fungal biology/pathogenesis
• epithelial cell culture and infection assays
• biophysical techniques (SPR, ITC, Orbit16)

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