Research Assistant/Associate in Engineering Biology

Salary: Reserach Assistant: £33,002 - £34,610 per annum

            Reserach Associate: £35,608 - £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: 8 October 2025

The Role

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Research Assistant/Associate to join our interdisciplinary team tackling critical challenges in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This exciting role is part of an MRC-funded project investigating the epidemic potential of key human gastrointestinal pathogens across the urban interface – encompassing environmental, animal, food, and human sources within major metropolitan areas in Southeast Asia (SEA), focusing on Manila (Philippines) and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). This position will be based at the School of Engineering, Chemical Engineering at Newcastle University.

This role is available on a part time for 18.5 hours per week for a period of 3 months to provide cover for a colleague.

Please reach out to Anh Phan at anh.phan@newcastle.ac.uk for more information.

Key Accountabilities

• Coordinate all aspects of assigned research projects, ensuring timely delivery of milestones and adherence to established protocols and timelines. This includes contributing to project planning and risk assessment.
• Design, organise and facilitate workshops and training courses to disseminate research findings and best practices to the wider team.
• Collaborate closely with project partners to analyse results, gather relevant data for modelling, and ensure accurate data collection.
• Conduct comprehensive bioinformatic analysis utilising established methodologies and tools (e.g. R, Python, MATLAB and other relevant bioinformatics software packages).
• Develop models to identify transmission routes and predict AMR.
• Analyse data, interpret results and compile findings into detailed reports for regular project team meetings and wider dissemination.
• Prepare high-quality manuscripts suitable for submission to leading peer-reviewed research journals.
• Maintain consistent, proactive communication with project partners to ensure all specifications and deliverables are met, tracked, documented, and proactively addressed any challenges or deviations from specifications.
• Contribute to the efficient operation of the laboratory, aligning activities with the Principal Investigator’s direction and priorities, including maintaining equipment and assisting with experimental setup as needed.

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Experience in both engineering biology techniques and comprehensive bioinformatic analysis.
• Proven ability to write detailed, technically accurate reports on complex research topics, adhering to established scientific writing standards.
• Capacity to undertake independent research work and effectively collaborate with/under the guidance of the grant holder – demonstrating strong teamwork skills.
• Ability to assess complex problems, analyse data critically, and propose innovative solutions.
• Experience in working across diverse scientific disciplines.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to plan and organise work effectively and generate comprehensive reports.
• Solid knowledge and practical experience in applying analytical techniques and developing predictive models (e.g., statistical modelling, machine learning).
• Demonstrated capacity to drive research agendas independently, contributing strategically to project goals.
• A high level of technical proficiency across a range of bioinformatics tools and methodologies.
• The ambition to progress further in a research environment in this (or a closely related) field. (Desirable)
• Publications in high impact factor journals. (Desirable)
• Knowledge and experience in AMR, Artificial Intelligence in health and food systems. (Desirable)
• Very good laboratory skills encompassing cell culture, molecular biology, metagenomic sequencing technologies. (Desirable)
• Experience in handling microbial pathogens. (Desirable)

Attributes and Behaviours

• Excellent (written and verbal) communication and teamwork skills.
• Detail-oriented and highly organised.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong problem-solving abilities.
• To be courteous with the Supervisor and all other members of the team.

Qualifications

• A First or an upper second class (2:1) honours degree in Biology, Microbiology, Bioinformatics, Environmental Science, or a related discipline.
• PhD in Biology, Microbiology, Bioinformatics or a related discipline.

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: 28606