Research Assistant

Salary: £36,636 to £38,784 with progression to £46,049 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: 23 August 2026

The Role

We are seeking a highly motivated and uniquely skilled Research Assistant to work as part of our research team at Newcastle University School of Dental Sciences.  Our research group has an interest in smoking and novel nicotine products and the successful candidate will investigate the deeper mechanistic effects vaping has on oral tissues and their associated microbial communities to provide much needed data to allow full interpretation of the existing clinical findings.

The post-holder will address key post‑trial research priorities, which include the development of anatomically and physiologically relevant in vitro models to investigate the effects of vaping exposures on the inflammatory and cytotoxic responses of oral tissues. In addition, to investigate the effects of vaping exposures on the interaction between oral tissues and complex microbial communities relevant to oral health and disease. 

The successful candidate must hold at least an undergraduate degree, and ideally a Master’s degree or higher, in biomedical sciences. In addition, the successful candidate must have experience in tissue culture and the development of in vitro models of oral tissues, as well as microbial culture, histology, molecular biology and immunoassays.

This post is a full time fixed term for a period of 1 year.

Informal enquiries are encouraged, please contact: Dr Richard Holliday (Richard.holliday@newcastle.ac.uk)

Find out more about the Faculty of Medical Sciences here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/

Find out more about our Research Institutes here:

https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/research/institutes/

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

Key Accountabilities

• Although working under the general guidance of an academic or Principal Investigator, the postholder will contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of their studies, thus providing substantial 'added value'
• Develop and carry out the specified projects using appropriate techniques and equipment as outlined in the personal requirements

• Determine appropriate methodologies for research, with advice and support where required
• Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations
• Contribute to the writing up of their research for publication and 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
• May be involved in the supervision, with guidance, of final year undergraduate research projects and in providing support to postgraduate research students
• Will need to work with the support staff and, on occasions, with undergraduate and postgraduate students, and interact intellectually with other academic members of the Institute.
• May contribute to events celebrating the public engagement of science/social sciences/humanities
• Develop an awareness of University structures, policies and procedures and relevant issues in the higher education, research, social and political environment

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Ability to work well as part of a team and rapidly acquire new skills
• Detailed subject knowledge relevant to the project, including the anatomy and physiology of the oral cavity
• Experience in tissue culture and the development of in vitro models of oral tissues
• Experience in microbial culture, histology, molecular biology and immunoassays
• High level of analytical and problem-solving capability
• Ability to communicate complex information with clarity and to encourage the commitment of others
• Experience of research with clear transferable skills and some experience or awareness of the research environment

Desirable

• Presentations at conferences and/or high-quality publications
• Knowledge and experience of the use of research smoking machines

Attributes and Behaviour

• Evidence of the ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Excellent organisational, communication and interpersonal skills
• Evidence of the ability to meet deadlines and to manage conflicting priorities
• Commitment to own personal professional development, including a strong desire to develop educational and research skills

• Ability to prioritise key tasks
• Ability to work flexibly and cooperatively with others

Desirable

• Understanding and commitment to the University’s research and engagement strategy

Qualifications

• An honours degree (or equivalent) in a subject relevant to the area of research

Desirable

• A Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant research area

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: 29640