Clinical Research Fellow in Human Infection Challenge

Clinical Research Fellow in Human Infection Challenge

Are you an enthusiastic physician looking to bridge the gap between clinical practice and cutting-edge academic medicine?.

Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of life-threatening infection worldwide, and with the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the need for new preventive strategies is urgent.

Main duties of the job

You will be based in Dr Dinesh Aggarwal's research group todeliver the Staphylococcus aureus controlled human infection model. As a keyclinical lead for this study, you will:

• Contribute toprotocol development, regulatory compliance, and safety reporting, ensuring thestudy meets the highest standards of Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
• Work closely with the multidisciplinary team to screen andrecruit eligible participants.
• Provide directmedical care and supervision for healthy volunteers undergoing S. aureus skinchallenge.
• You will manage participant safety, monitor infectionprogression, and oversee the clinical team during inpatient quarantine andfollow-up.
• Beyond the S. aureus study, you will contribute to thedelivery of viral upper respiratory tract controlled human infection models runby Prof Chris Chiu, giving you exposure to a diverse portfolio of cutting-edgeexperimental medicine.
• You will have the opportunity to participate in the analysisof immune responses, bacterial genomics, and microbiome determinants, helpingto identify the factors that determine susceptibility to infection.

About us

Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, we navigate some of the world's toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you'll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you'll join us at Imperial.

Job responsibilities

The programme will start recruiting volunteers in mid-2026, and weanticipate the successful applicant will take up this position in March 2026.You will hold an honorary contract with the appropriate NHS Trusts and beexpected to take on clinical responsibilities appropriate to your level ofexperience expertise, with training in study-specific areas provided:

Assist with the setup and day-to-day management anddelivery of the Staphylococcus aureus human challenge and other experimentalvaccination or infection studies

Assist with recruitment and screening of healthyvolunteers.

Provide direct clinical care to study participantsadmitted for S. aureus skin challenge, in liaison with the research nurses andstudy PIs.

Provide direct clinical care to study participantsadmitted for respiratory viral controlled human infection models, in liaisonwith the research nurses and study PIs

Support delivery of other clinical studies(including trials) within Dr Aggarwals group.

Acting as a point of contact for study participantsto provide clinical advice and care before, during and after infectious agent challenge,under the supervision of the study PI.

Co-ordinate the development of study protocols andassociated study documentation.

Prepare safety reports and briefings for the datasafety monitoring committee.

Ensure adherence to the study protocols andcompliance with regulatory requirements.

Work with the rest of the clinical team, inparticular the lead research nurse and clinical project manager, to ensure allclinical research conducted is compliant with Good Clinical Practice.

Academic development, training and supervision

Possibilityof enrolling for an MD(Res) or equivalent if desired and as appropriate

Participatein the analysis of immune responses using cellular and molecular immunologytechniques if desired and as appropriate.

Participatein the analysis of S. aureus load dynamics and evolution using genomics ifdesired and as appropriate.

Participatein the analysis of host microbiome determinants of, and dynamics during, Saureus infection if desired and as appropriate.

Trainingof study associated personnel.

Troubleshootingissues while maintaining and developing good relationships with researchers andclinicians associated with the study in a variety of different settings.

Identifyingand developing further research themes which may be developed within this ornewly conceived studies.

Person Specification Qualifications

• Medical degree with GMC registration.
• Membership of the Royal College of Physicians or equivalent.

Experience

• Experience in management of general medical problems, medical emergencies, S. aureus infections, and surgical site infections.
• Demonstrated ability to interact with other clinicians, nurses and others.
• Knowledge of skin infections and current developments in microbiology and vaccinology.
• Knowledge of research methods and statistical procedures.
• Practical experience of clinical studies or trials.
• Experience of the supervision or training of colleagues.
• Experience of presenting to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Evidence of teaching and teaching support.
• Familiarity with Good Clinical Practice and governance of clinical studies.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.