Research Assistant/Associate-Structural & chemical biology to generate hypotheses for drug discovery

Salary:

Research Assistant: £32,546 to £34,132  per annum

Research Associate: £35,116 to £40,497 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: 19 March 2025

The Role

You will be part of a team based in the Newcastle Cancer Centre that will use structural, chemical and cell biological tools to understand the roles and mechanisms of CDKs to generate hypotheses for drug discovery. You will use contemporary structural, biochemical, and biophysical techniques to characterise CDK complexes involved in the control of the eukaryotic cell cycle and the regulation of transcription. You will be an accomplished researcher with experience in inter-disciplinary protein structure determination and expertise in contemporary structural biology techniques, with a requirement for familiarity with cryo electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography.

You will design, implement and deliver novel strategies to prepare protein complexes. You will have experience in contemporary techniques in high throughput protein crystallography for inhibitor design. You will also have experience in using biophysical techniques to characterise protein structure, function and regulation. You will work within a large multi-disciplinary team that includes biologists, structural biologists and chemists.

The position is funded by the Medical Research Council and a fixed term post until 30th September 2026. 

Please provide evidence of how you meet the essential criteria required for the role outlined in ‘The Person’ by uploading a letter of application along with your Curriculum Vitae (CV).

Informal approaches can be made to Professor Jane Endicott (jane.endicott@ncl.ac.uk) or Professor Martin Noble (martin.noble@ncl.ac.uk)

Information about the Cell Cycle Structural Biology Group can be found at:  https://research.ncl.ac.uk/cellcyclestructuralbiology/ 

Information about the Faculty of Medical Sciences is available at: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medicalsciences/ 

We are committed to the professional career development of all our colleagues. You will benefit from a range of excellent development opportunities including internal and external training. As part of this commitment to 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

• Use contemporary methods in cryo-electron microscopy to determine protein structures
• Supervise and manage protein crystallization and X-ray diffraction data collection using the home source and synchrotron sources
• Work within a team you will lead the implementation of appropriate biophysical assays and high throughout crystallography in support of medicinal chemistry
• Collect and analyse data and present your results at group and institute meetings and to collaborators
• Liaise with bioscience and chemistry colleagues to identify and optimise opportunities for further collaboration
• 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 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 laboratory meetings e.g. problem solving, internal seminars, journal club
• Perform risk assessments and maintain safety laboratory records (e.g. COSHH) in consultation with academic staff
• Organise and assist in general laboratory duties as required (e.g. purchasing, equipment maintenance)

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience 

• Substantial experience in cryo electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography for protein structure determination
• Experience in biophysical techniques for the study of protein structure and function
• Expertise in recombinant protein expression in bacterial and insect cells
• Research experience in an academic or industry setting, preferably in eukaryotic cell cycle and cell signalling
• The ability to identify and develop new technologies and methods relevant to the post
• Ability to work well as part of a team and rapidly acquire new skills
• Detailed subject knowledge in structural and chemical biology 
• 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 

Desirable

• Experience in molecular biology techniques:  construct design, subcloning and site-directed mutagenesis
• Previous experience of working in collaboration with industrial partners

Attributes and Behaviour

• Clear commitment to a career in research
• Willingness to undertake work outside of normal working hours
• Flexibility to participate fully in multi-centre collaborations

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant science subject – preferably biochemistry, cell biology, chemistry.( For Research Assistant Appointment) 
• A PhD in the area of structural biology. (For Research Associate appointment)  

Desirable

• Masters qualification in a relevant subject

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: 27932