Research Associate in Human Genetics

The post will be based in the research group of Professor Michael Simpson a multidisciplinary team with expertise in genetics, genomics, immunology and dermatology. The group is co-located in the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics and the St John's Institute of Dermatology at King's College London at the Guy's Campus in London Bridge. 

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate with a strong background in statistical genetics and/or computational biology to join our team.

The successful applicant will contribute to a cutting-edge research programme which aims to understand the genetic and molecular mechanisms of complex inflammatory skin diseases.  The applicant will develop and MRF funded project looking at the psychological co-morbidities of acne, with opportunities to develop the project depending on their expertise, development needs, and interest.

An estimated 20–25% of the population is affected by inflammatory skin diseases, the most common of which include eczema, psoriasis and acne. Easing the burden of these diseases warrants attention owing to their high prevalence, visibility, psychosocial impact, need for long-term treatment and associated costs. Inter-individual variability in response and tolerability of existing treatments further adds to the already substantial impact on quality of life and underlines the need for improved knowledge on pathogenic mechanisms to inform novel drug targets for inflammatory skin diseases.

Over the last 10 years our team has led the identification of the genetic variation that contributes to susceptibility and severity of inflammatory skin diseases and the biological mechanisms through which they operate. We have established collaborations across the globe and built a research programme that leverages high throughput, high-resolution sequencing platforms and novel analytical methods.

The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in statistical genetics and epidemiology or a related field with a proven track record in the analysis of large biological datasets.

They are expected to be able to work effectively as part of a team but also to direct research independently as required. This post represents an exceptional opportunity for career development within a highly supportive environment for both early- and mid-career researchers.

This is a full time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract for 2 years.

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.

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

*  Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Desirable criteria

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

At King’s, we believe that the diversity of our community and a culture that is welcoming, open, inclusive and collaborative, are great strengths of the university.

The Equality Act of 2010 protects the rights of our students and staff and provides a framework to fulfil our duties to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and in addition, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. At times, this will include balancing rights and beliefs that can feel in tension.

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When engaging in the robust exchange of ideas, we ask that our community is mindful of our Dignity at King’s guidance.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job description. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

We reserve the right to close adverts early due to the volume of applications we receive. While the closing date may change, all adverts will close at 23:59 to allow sufficient time for applications to be submitted on that day.

We encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment as once we have closed a vacancy you will be unable to submit your application.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit ’ pages.

Interviews are due to be held in April/May 2026.