Research Assistant/Research Associate in Prostate Cancer Research

Salary: 

Research Assistant: 33,002 to £34,610 per annum

Research Associate: £35,608 to £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: 13 November 2025

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity for a Research Assistant/Research Associate to work on a project exploiting glycans to develop new treatments for advanced prostate cancer. The project is funded by the JGW Patterson Foundation and will run alongside other projects in our lab funded by Prostate Cancer UK and Prostate Cancer Research (see: www.munkleylab.co.uk). New hormone therapies have transformed the lives of thousands of men with advanced prostate cancer. However, most patients will eventually become resistant to these treatments, and there is a critical need to develop new therapeutic strategies to eradicate tumours.

We have identified a cancer-associated glycan that is upregulated in prostate cancer tissue. Our research shows this glycan likely plays an important functional role in prostate cancer progression, and we are now working to develop new therapeutic strategies to inhibit this pathway.

This project aims to perform in vitro pre-clinical evaluation of therapeutic antibodies (targeting cancer-associated glycans) as novel therapies for prostate cancer. The researcher will also assist with other projects in the lab when needed. Applicants must have a PhD in a related area and expertise in tissue culture, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry.

For more information see: PMIDs: 38772281, 36725887 and 37550801.

Please note that if you are successful to this role, you will require medical clearance before you can commence in the role

This post is fixed term for a period of 6 months

For informal enquiries contact: Dr Jennifer Munkley, jennifer.munkley@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 requirementsDetermine 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

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Ability to work well as part of a team and rapidly acquire new skills
• Detailed subject knowledge of cancer 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
• Knowledge of cancer research, molecular biology and statistics
• Excellent generic laboratory skills and evidence of ability to deliver technically difficult experiments and acquire new techniques quickly
• Experienced in cell culture, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Desirable

• Some postdoctoral experience
• Knowledge of prostate cancer, glycosylation and pre-clinical drug testing.
• Culture of primary and/or immune cells
• Experience of in vitro cell behaviour assays (cell proliferation, adhesion, migration, invasion)
• Record of completing research, including writing for publications and presentation of data at conferences
• Publication record in cancer research (or related field)

Attributes and Behaviour

• Clear commitment to research
• Excellent team working and communication skills
• Professional attitude to scholarship and research
• Strong analytical and experimental planning skills
• Excellent personal organisation, record keeping and attention to detail

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in a science subject – preferably molecular biology, cell biology, or genetics
• A PhD in cancer research or related field (or close to submission of PhD for Research 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 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: 28720