Research Assistant/Associate

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

            Research Associate: £35,116 - £41,671 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: 29 May 2025

The Role 

The Stroke Research Group at Newcastle University is seeking an enthusiastic Research Assistant/Associate to assist our team with our portfolio of studies which seek to improve emergency care for suspected stroke patients. The Stroke Research Group is an established multidisciplinary team with a global reputation due to publications in high impact journals (Lancet, JAMA, Stroke) and presentations at key international scientific meetings. Our research involves close working with NHS hospital and ambulance services across the region and nationally, in order to improve patient outcomes and service efficiency.    

The postholder will assist with on-going clinical studies which include: i) whether a lateral flow test used by ambulance paramedics can identify when stroke is due to large vessel occlusion. This portable technology aims to improve pre-hospital triage of suspected stroke patients across the NHS, and reduce disability for individuals who are suitable for emergency treatments; ii) a large cluster randomized controlled trial which is evaluating a new care pathway to facilitate mechanical thrombectomy treatment for patients with large vessel occlusion stroke. 

Duties will involve contributing to research governance applications, NHS site set up, day to day study management including daily communication with the participating ambulance service and hospitals across the NHS, operational data analysis and report writing. The post holder will based in the Stroke Research Group, Population Health Sciences Institute but travel will be required to NHS sites. There may also be opportunities to get involved with other on-going projects led by the Stroke Research Group.

This post is fixed term for a period of 12 months.

For informal enquiries contact: Dr Lisa Shaw, Lisa.Shaw@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 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
•    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.
•    Prepare documentation specific to the clinical study including information to support research governance applications.
•    Develop and maintain processes which facilitate successful NHS site set up and subsequent delivery of the clinical study.
•    Support NHS clinicians and NHS research support staff who will be involved in the clinical studies at the NHS sites. 
•    Assist with data management to support high quality data acquisition for the clinical studies. 
•    Attend and produce updates, reports and presentations, for regular Stroke Research Group project meetings.
 

The Person (Essential)

Knowledge, Skills and Experience 

Essential
•    Ability to work well as part of a team and rapidly acquire new skills.
•    Detailed subject knowledge about healthcare 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 working within a clinical research or NHS R&D environment.
•    Experience of clinical research governance processes (e.g. Health Research Authority).
•    Experience of clinical study data management processes.

Desirable
•    Awareness of the process and organisation of emergency stroke care.
•    Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training.
•    Ability to use statistical packages (e.g SPSS, R).

Attributes and Behaviour

•    Able to represent the Stroke Research Group at internal and external meetings. 
•    Willingness and ability to travel around the region and nationally as needed.

Qualifications

•    A PhD in relevant area (required for appointment at Associate level).
•    Honors degree in relevant subject (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: 28123