Research Assistant/Associate

Salary:

Research Assistant: £30,619 to £32,411 per annum

Research Associate: £33,348 to £43,155 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: 26 March 2023

The Role

Are you interested in tackling the re-emerging problem of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance? The aim of this role is to develop agile and globally impactful Point-of-Need diagnostics for antimicrobial resistance. Treating a disease is much easier and cheaper if its presence can be detected early in the lifecycle and your role will be key to realising new systems that can be deployed outside of a centralised laboratory, in a variety of remote clinical settings. Your contribution to success in this research area has the potential to have a transformative impact on human health and disease management. The Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technologies research group, within which the successful applicant will be embedded, is involved in two major collaborative projects which address this research theme namely; i-sense (https://www.i-sense.org.uk) and u-sense  (https://www.i-sense.org.uk/plus-projects/ultra-sensitive-enhanced-nanosensing-antimicrobial-resistance-u-sense

In this project, the researcher will work as an integral part of a larger team to produce a miniaturised, cost-effective and rapid device, which will allow clinicians to make informed treatment choices earlier. In one arm of the project we are developing lateral flow immunoassays and in another aspect the technology being developed utilises conserved and unique biomarker signatures necessary for the development of molecular isothermal amplification assays. These assays can be readout using various formats developed in our group and our collaborators’ groups. To limit cost and for ease of use the assays are being developed in paper based systems, or microfluidic cartridges. The successful applicant will collaborate with Imperial College London (Professor Molly Stevens) and Strathclyde University (Professor Duncan Graham), which may require occasional travel to the associated labs.

This post is fixed term until 31st March 2024 in the first instance. 

For informal enquiries contact: 
Dr N Keegan – 
E-mail: Neil.Keegan@ncl.ac.uk 
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 3678  

Find out more about the Faculty of Medical Sciences here.

Find out more about our Research Institutes here.

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
•    To perform collaborative work with wider EPSRC IRC in Early Warning Sensing Systems for Infectious Diseases, which may include regular visits to and on-site work at the collaborating organisations
•    To participate fully as a member of the project team; including input into other ongoing projects in the laboratory and in the day-to-day organisation and management of the laboratory
 

The Person (Essential)

Knowledge, Skills and Experience 
•    Ability to work well as part of a team and rapidly acquire new skills
•    Detailed subject knowledge (PI to describe subject knowledge required) 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 
•    General proficiency in immunoassays
•    General proficiency in molecular biology and assay development in molecular biology (PCR/nucleic acid analysis)
•    Knowledge of biomarker discovery, biophysical techniques for target characterization and biomimetic capture coatings for application to sensor-based diagnostics and monitoring 
•    Research knowledge related to sensor systems for diagnostics, or biological assay development

Desirable

•    Research knowledge of paper based assays, or microfluidic assays
•    Knowledge of DNA aptamer selection protocols
•    Knowledge of DNA aptamer deployment in assay development

Attributes and Behaviour

•    A strong desire to progress to a research career in Biological Sciences/commitment to continued professional development 
•    Proven communication and presentation skills
•    Proven writing skills
•    Demonstration of ability to work in a team environment, to collaborate with other scientists and to work to deadlines

Desirable
•    Proven supervision of junior team members.

Qualifications

•    Good honours degree (or equivalent) with some subject knowledge in the relevant area (Research Assistant)
•    A PhD in, or closely related to, the research area required (Research Associate)
 

Newcastle is an inclusive global University community 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 Global 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 our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from everybody, regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital status/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, as well as being open to flexible working practices.

The University holds a silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. The University is also a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.

Requisition ID: 25194