Research Assistant/Associate in Cancer Early Detection and Genetics

Salary: Research Assistant £33,951 to £35,608 per annum (pro rata)

            Research Associate £36,636 per annum (pro rata)

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: 21 September 2026

The Role

We are seeking a Research Assistant/Associate to deliver world-leading research in early cancer detection using liquid biopsies, working within the Newcastle University Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences.

The research is led from the Cancer Prevention Research Group, Principal Investigators Professor Sir John Burn and Dr Richard Gallon, based at the International Centre for Life, and is part of a European collaboration working with institutions across 16 countries. John and Richard have over a decade of experience developing, translating into practice, and commercialising assays for cancer diagnostics, and won the Cancer Research Horizons Translational Project of the Year Recognition Award 2025 in recognition of their real-world impact. John led the CaPP clinical trials demonstrating the benefit of daily aspirin on cancer risk. John and Richard have a global network and sit on the boards of several national / international expert bodies shaping healthcare research and guidelines.

The research will assess novel liquid biopsy tests for the early detection of cancer in people with Lynch syndrome, working within the Predi-Lynch collaboration (https://predi-lynch.eu/). Predi-Lynch is funded by the European Commission Horizon Europe Mission on Cancer, with a total budget of 13.6 million Euro. Samples, including urine and vaginal swabs, will be collected from clinical trial participants across Europe and the UK and sent to Newcastle University for analysis using the Newcastle MSI-Plus Assay to screen for urothelial and endometrial cancer (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41138669/). Ultimately, results from Predi-Lynch will inform cancer surveillance strategies for Lynch syndrome, improving patient outcomes and benefitting healthcare services. The role will be to deliver Newcastle’s part in the Predi-Lynch collaboration, including laboratory-bench and computational work, as well as sample and data management, and reporting back to collaborators.

We are looking for a researcher with a background in cancer genetics research who has prior experience with development and/or use of diagnostic assays. Expert knowledge of Lynch syndrome and microsatellite instability are desirable.  Essential skills include expertise with molecular biology and a strong foundation in the use of bioinformatics. The candidate will need to have the highest level of rigor in the laboratory and when handling data as assay results will affect the care of trial participants. Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training will be needed and prior work to GCP standards is desirable. Adept verbal and written communication skills are essential.

The role will begin late summer/early autumn 2026 and will be part time at 90% full-time equivalent for 4 years. Attendance on-site is essential for laboratory-based work though some degree of flexible working can be negotiated. Availability to attend international conferences and meetings of the Predi-Lynch consortium once or more each year is needed.

We follow the Researcher Development Concordat: Researcher Development | Our Research | Newcastle University. We enable all colleagues to fulfil their research potential regardless of career stage. This commitment secures our thriving research culture and vibrant research environment. Our offer to each individual and their researcher development includes mentoring, annual research planning discussions, pooled research funding to support career development and research activities, peer review support for the development of research and innovation funding applications’.

To apply, please provide a cover letter and CV. We anticipate interviews will be held in August 2026.

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

Find out more about our Research Institutes: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/research/institutes/translational/

Contacts for the post are Professor Sir John Burn (john.burn@newcastle.ac.uk) and Dr Richard Gallon (richard.gallon@newcastle.ac.uk).

Key Accountabilities

Research Assistant

• Coordinate sample processing, storage, analysis, and reporting with local and international partners
• Extract DNA from a range of liquid biopsy sample types (urine and vaginal swab) using established protocols
• Analyse sample DNAs for microsatellite instability (MSI) using a novel in vitro diagnostic device and bioinformatics analysis pipeline (the Newcastle MSI-Plus Assay). Develop, optimise, and validate additional molecular diagnostic assays to complement the Newcastle MSI-Plus Assay
• Report results back to collaboration partners and participate in trial molecular tumour board meetings to support results interpretation and participant care. Critically assess assay performance and interpretation
• 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

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

• The highest level of rigor in the laboratory and when handling data
• Experience working to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards
• Experience with development and/or use of diagnostic assays
• Knowledge of Lynch syndrome and microsatellite instability
• Knowledge of cancer screening strategies, their benefits and limitations
• Expertise with molecular biology and DNA sequencing, and a foundation in bioinformatics
• 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
• Excellent IT skills in all major office applications
• The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems.

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 Biology / Chemistry / Biochemistry / Medical Sciences

In addition for Research Associate

• PhD in Cancer and / or Genetics

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: 29703