Research Assistant/Associate (MN KRUK )

Salary: Research Assistant: £32,546 - £34,132 per annum

            Research Associate: £35,116 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: 28 May 2025

The Role

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced researcher to join our team.

You will be part of the Complement Therapeutics Research Group which is part of the Translational and Clinical Research Institute and the I&I theme. The CTRG focuses on understanding the role of the complement system in health and disease and your role will be to run normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) studies using human kidneys donated to research.  

Our recent data demonstrated successful delivery of homodimeric minimal Factor H during the cold flush period of the organ transplant pathway, which protected human organs for damage. That next steps toward clinical trials are detailed safety analysis of HDM-FH. This project will use NMP to model drug delivery and release. Experimental models will assess immunogenicity and establish if HDM-FH is ‘best-in-class’ to protect organs in this way. 

Working as part of a  multidisciplinary team you will manufacture the drug and so tissue culture experience is essential along with experience of in vivo imaging, histology, western and ELISA.  You will also be required to be available when organs become available. Significant practical experience in NMP and knowledge of in vivo modelling would be a distinct advantage.  A PhD in a related subject is essential for Research Associate or close to submission for Research Assistant.  

This is a full time post fixed term for a period of 2 years.

To apply for the position, we’ll need your CV and a cover letter outlining how you are suitable for the role using evidence to highlight how you meet the essential criteria in the knowledge, skills and experience as listed in the job description.

For informal enquiries contact: Kevin Marchbank, Kevin.Marchbank@ncl.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 Profile  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 PI, 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 project using appropriate techniques and equipment as outlined in the personal requirements 
•    Determine appropriate methodologies for research, with advice and support where required
•    Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and in time develop own research objectives and proposals for funding 
•    Begin to write, with appropriate support, proposals for individual research funding or, where funders do not permit this, contribute to the writing of collective bids
•    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 or Research Assistants 
•    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
•    Contribute to the wider mission of the BRTU in ODT and the Complement Therapeutics Research Group.

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience 

Essential
•    Ability to work well as part of a team and rapidly acquire new skills
•    Detailed subject knowledge in the area of research 
•    Likelihood of advanced skills directly related to the research projects 
•    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 
•    Presentations at conferences and/or high-quality publications 
•    Experience of Normothermic Machine Perfusion
•    Experience of Immunological methods (Histology, ELISA, Western Blotting etc)
•    Experience of Tissue Culture

Desirable
•    Experience of In vivo modelling
•    Experience of IVIS
•    Experience of Protein Purification

Attributes and Behaviour

Essential
•    Ability to meet deadlines with effective time and resource management.
•    Clear communicator and active listener
•    Consistent and appropriate approach to staff and situations
•    Use of feedback for process improvement and staff development
•    Team player, self-starter and able to manage complex workload
•    Ability to respond enthusiastically and positively to undergraduate students
•    Must be prepared to take part in flexible working and shift rotas

Qualifications

•    A PhD in Immunobiology/Transplant (required for appointment at Associate level)
•    Honors degree in relevant subject or close to submission of PhD (for appointment at Assistant level). 

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 silver 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: 28170