An exciting opportunity is available to join the laboratories of Dr Ali Roghanian and Dr Salah Mansour at the University of Southampton in collaboration with MiNK Therapeutics. We are seeking a collaborative and motivated scientist to work on our C-Further-funded programme developing next-generation, off-the-shelf immunotherapies for childhood cancers.

This project will harness engineered cytotoxic invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells for precision targeting of paediatric cancer neoantigen. Building on strong preliminary data, it combines mechanistic and translational immunology with bespoke in vivo models to define and exploit therapeutic candidates. The Research Assistant will lead studies on cytotoxic T cell mechanisms, oversee preclinical validation, and advance TCR-engineered iNKT platforms optimised for immunotherapy.

The role bridges basic and translational research and suits a creative scientist with interests in tumour immunology, T cell engineering, and immunotherapy. You will join a multidisciplinary team spanning immunology, with access to advanced flow cytometry and in vivo platforms.

Key responsibilities

• To work within the Roghanian and Mansour labs, and with collaborators at Southampton, LifeArc and MiNK Therapeutics.
• To design, conduct, and analyse in vitro and in vivo immunology experiments.
• To lead the optimisation and functional assessment of human T cells.
• To liaise and coordinate between project collaborators, including the industrial partner, and core facilities.
• To record analyses accurately and present results at group and collaborative meetings, and conferences.
• To contribute to dissemination of findings through publications and grant applications.
• Any other duties appropriate to the scope and grade of the post.

Essential qualifications, experience and competencies

• Degree (BSc or equivalent) in biological or biomedical sciences or equivalent experience.
• Strong practical experience with core immunological assays (e.g., FACS, ELISA, T cell assays).
• Proven competence in the design and execution of experiments using mouse models of cancer.
• Ability to manage projects to timelines, supervise junior staff, and work both independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including at conferences.

Desirable

• Experience in engineering human T cells, viral transduction, or related approaches.
• Home Office Personal Licence.

About us

The University of Southampton offers a strong environment for translational immunology. Clinical and Experimental Sciences (CES) is a hub for infection and immunology, while the Centre for Cancer Immunology (CCI) is the UK’s first dedicated cancer immunology centre. Together, they unite expertise in T cell biology, multiomics, immunotherapy, preclinical modelling, and clinical translation, supported by an embedded Clinical Trials Unit and close links with NHS and industry partners.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted via the University of Southampton recruitment system by 7^th June 2026. Interviews will be held soon after.

Applicants should provide:

• A CV
• A cover letter outlining suitability for the role
• Contact details for at least two recent referees

Start date: September 2026 or soon after (negotiable)

This is a fixed term post initially 12 months with a possibility of extension to 21 months, subject to progress.

Closing Date: 07 Jun 2026

Section: Technical & Experimental

Salary: £36,636 to £37,694 per annum
Full Time Fixed Term for 12 months

SCTU is a leading UK academic CTU located within the state-of-the-art Centre for Cancer Immunology building at Southampton General Hospital. Southampton Clinical Trials Unit (SCTU) | University of Southampton

SCTU is a UKCRC registered CTU and is core-funded by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) together with funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) via the Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and Research Support Service (RSS). 

SCTU has expertise in the design, conduct and publication of clinical trials and other well-designed studies from first-in-human phase I to practice changing phase III trials to large early diagnosis observational studies with rich translational data. Managing a growing portfolio (75% cancer, 25% non-cancer) that covers the complete spectrum of clinical practice, from primary care through to tertiary referral medicine, including pan-cancer experimental therapeutics, surgery, radiotherapy and early diagnosis. Undertaking multi-centre early and late phase clinical trials, we work nationally and internationally to create the evidence for patient benefit that will directly influence routine clinical practice in the NHS and overseas. 

As part of the CRUK and NIHR infrastructure we have close working relationships with our partners, including the Southampton Experimental Cancer Research Centre, NIHR BRC & RSS, University Hospital Southampton, the Centre for Cancer Immunology discovery community and CRUK Centres and Institutes across the UK, with an increasing number of international collaborations. 

The Senior Trials Manager will lead the relevant portfolio team to ensure effective delivery of the overall strategy and delivery priorities for SCTU. This will include resource management, oversight of financial management, new trial development, grant applications, and the ability to anticipate and consider potential issues or opportunities which could affect delivery and growth of the relevant portfolio.

The appointed person must have proven experience of running clinical trials, with a focus on multistakeholder studies collecting patient samples for analysis, and including new trial development.

This position is full time fixed term for 24 months. 

The employing organisation is the University of Southampton which offers a competitive salary, pension scheme, generous holiday entitlement and other benefits. 

For informal queries please contact Nicole Keyworth, Portfolio Lead, on n.e.keyworth@soton.ac.uk

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Closing Date: 02 Jun 2026

Section: Management, Specialist & Administrative

Salary: £46,049 to £58,225 per annum
Full Time Fixed Term for 24 months