Research Assistant/ Associate in genetics of muscular dystrophies

Salary: 

Research Assistant: £33,951 to £35,608 per annum

Research Associate: £36,636 to £38,784 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 15 September 2026

The Role 

We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated Research Assistant or Research Associate to join the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre (JWMDRC) at Newcastle University for a 10-month fixed-term position. The successful candidate will contribute to one of our Next Generation Sequencing projects looking at the genetics of muscular dystrophies, particularly calpainopathies.

Working within a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and scientists, you will play a key role in advancing the understanding of the genetics and variable expression of dominant calpainopathies, through a multi-omics approach. 

The role will involve the identification of a suitable study cohort of individuals and families carrying dominant CAPN3 variants. Using genomic and multi-omic approaches, including short- and long-read whole genome sequencing, transcriptomics, proteomics and epigenomic analysis, the study aims to identify genetic and molecular factors that modify disease manifestation and improve the interpretation and diagnosis of CAPN3-related disease.

You will be expected to work independently while contributing to collaborative research activities, maintaining high scientific standards, and delivering project milestones within timelines. 

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of Research Innovation Role Profiles.pdf.  These profiles set out firstly the generic competencies and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and, secondly, the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.

Newcastle University is committed to the responsible use of research metrics as part of our research culture and research strategy. We advocate for the transparent, appropriate, and inclusive use of metrics, guided by expert judgment, to support high-quality, impactful research that is open, collaborative and sustainable. Click here for our full policy statement on the responsible use of Research Metrics. Click here for a self-study e-learning module on the Responsible Use of Research Metrics.

Find out more about the Faculty Medical Sciences here: Faculty of Medical Sciences | Faculty of Medical Sciences | Newcastle University

Find out more about our Research Institutes: Translational and Clinical Research Institute | Faculty of Medical Sciences | Newcastle University

Contact for the post is Dr. Ana Topf (ana.topf@ncl.ac.uk)

Duration of post is 10 months

Key Accountabilities

Research Assistant

• Integrate data from different molecular platforms to identify and prioritise candidate disease modifiers, pathways and mechanisms for further investigation
• Apply and interpret multi-omic approaches, including genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and epigenomic data, to investigate mechanisms underlying these muscle diseases
• Work collaboratively with clinical, bioinformatics and laboratory researchers across the project and contribute, where appropriate, to wider next-generation sequencing and genomic analysis activities within the research group 
• Collect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes
• Co-ordinate own work with that of others, use problem solving to affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project(s)
• Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project
• Write up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project’s dissemination, in whatever form (report, papers, chapters, books)
• Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate

In addition for Research Associate

• Contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of the project
• Determine appropriate methodologies for research
• Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations
• Contribute to the writing up of the research and its dissemination, either through seminar and conference presentations or through publications
• Present research findings, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and develop own research objectives and proposals for funding

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Research Assistant

• Experience in human genetics and genomics, including the analysis, prioritisation and interpretation of variants identified through next-generation sequencing (NGS)
• Experience in bioinformatic and computational analysis of NGS datasets, including use of relevant analytical tools and/or scripting languages
• Experience in the analysis and integration of complex biological datasets
• Experience of interpreting research findings in a biological and clinical context
• Attention to detail and ability to work at high levels of accuracy
• Ability to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences
• Proven ability to analyse data and write-up results
• Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues
• Experience working within multidisciplinary research collaborations
• Excellent IT skills in all major office applications
• The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems
• Knowledge and/or research experience in neuromuscular diseases (desirable)

In addition for Research Associate

• Awareness of the research environment
• High level of analytical and problem solving capacity
• Ability to communicate complex information with clarity
• Experience of presentations at conferences and/or in high quality publications

Attributes and Behaviour

• Commitment to working positively as a member of a multi-skilled research team
• Ability to negotiate and prioritise multiple, competing responsibilities and to work to deadlines
• Commitment to continued professional development
• Understanding of good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity

Qualifications

Research Assistant

• Honours degree in Genetics, Medical Genetics, Molecular Biology

In addition for Research Associate

• PhD in Genetics, Medical Genetics, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 29700