Research Assistant

Salary: £30,619 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: 18 June 2023

The Role

We are looking to employ a Research Assistant to lead a study which will establish an expert consensus on appropriate biomarkers of ageing for use in research.  This project will involve using the Delphi technique – a scientific approach for establishing a consensus on any given topic – to develop a consensus statement, and will require you to design an initial set of questions to put to an expert panel, recruit and coordinate the expert panel (who may be working in different countries/time zones) and evaluate the results.  This temporary position is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to build research experience, especially those looking to pursuing a future career in academia.  You will also have the opportunity to be involved in the write up and publication of the research findings.  

You will be involved setting up and managing a study which will use the Delphi technique to develop an expert consensus on appropriate biomarkers of ageing for use in different research settings and highlight directions for future research. Leading experts will be identified to form an expert panel.  The expert panel will then undergo 2-3 iterative rounds to identify biomarkers of ageing, and appraise their utility in different settings, forming practical guidelines to inform researchers and clinicians. You will be part of a collegiate and supporting team including researchers from Newcastle (Prof. Viktor Korolchuk, Dr Oliver Shannon and dir. Tetsushi Kataura) and Manchester (Miss Chloe French) and will also have the opportunity to integrate with other researchers from the UKRI funded AGENTS Network (which is funding this project).  

This part time post is fixed term for a period of 5 months.
 
For informal enquiries contact Dr Oliver Shannon (oliver.shannon@newcastle.ac.uk) or Prof. Viktor Korolchuk (viktor.korolchuk@newcastle.ac.uk) 
 

Find out more about the Faculty of Medical Sciences here.

Find out more about our Research Institutes here.

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

• Contribution to the research programme of the School/Institute under the clear guidance of a member of an academic staff or Principal Investigator
• Use initiative and creativity to analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes
• Co-ordinate own work with that of others, deal with problems which may 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, book)
• Work to deadlines and manage, with support, competing priorities
• Ensure that personal knowledge in relevant fields of study is kept up to date
• Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate
• Maintain academic standards and freedom, and work in accordance with university policies (e.g., equal opportunities, health and safety policies)
• Possible supervision and demonstration duties within undergraduate laboratories and example classes or in teaching small seminar classes
• Undertake relevant training and development activities to develop capacity for taking on wider responsibilities
• Develop, with advice, an awareness of own professional development needs and a personal development strategy
• Set up and manage a Delphi study to establish an expert consensus on appropriate biomarkers of ageing for use in research

The Person (Essential)

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Some subject knowledge in the relevant area
• Good level of analytical skills and the ability to communicate complex information clearly, both orally and through the written word
• The ability to work collaboratively with colleagues
• The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research Problems
• Previous experience conducting research focused on ageing
• Experience of writing up research findings for publication in peer-reviewed journals

Attributes and Behaviour

• Friendly and personable
• Good time management 
• Excellent attention to detail

Qualifications

• Good honours degree (or equivalent) with some subject knowledge in the relevant area (e.g., Biomedical Sciences, Physiology, Human Nutrition, Sport & Exercise Science, or a related (discipline) 
• May possess (or be working towards) a higher research degree
   

Newcastle is an inclusive global University community 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 Global 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 our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from everybody, regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital status/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, as well as being open to flexible working practices.

The University holds a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. The University is also a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.

Requisition ID: 25268