Research Assistant/Associate in biomarker discovery and molecular characterization in genetic muscle

Salary:

Research Assistant: £32,296 - £33,882 per annum

Research Associate: £34,866 - £45,163 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits, including a generous holiday package, great pension schemes, and health and wellbeing initiatives.

Closing Date: 24 November 2024

The Role

We are seeking an experienced researcher to contribute to projects focused on the characterization of tissue and circulating biomarkers in genetic muscle diseases.

The primary objective of this role is to develop and apply a variety of new omics technologies to study samples of patients living with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) and other muscle disorders and analyze the results. The ultimate goal is to identify the key molecular pathways that are dysregulated in FSHD and other myopathies.

You will be based at the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, a leading hub for translational research in genetic neuromuscular diseases, home to a diverse team of approximately 90 members.

This post is fixed term for a period of 21 months, with the potential for further extension.

For informal enquiries contact: Prof Giorgio Tasca: Giorgio.tasca@newcastle.ac.uk

Key Accountabilities

• Contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of studies.
• Develop and carry out the specified project using appropriate techniques and equipment.
• Determine appropriate methodologies for research, with advice and support where required.
• Contribute to grant applications and develop own research objectives and proposals for funding.
• Write proposals for individual research funding or contribute to collective bids.
• Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations.
• Contribute to the writing up of research for publication and dissemination.
• Present research findings at conferences or through publications.
• May supervise final year undergraduate research projects and support postgraduate research students or Research Assistants.
• Work with support staff and interact with other academic members of the Institute.

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential

• Ability to work well as part of a team and rapidly acquire new skills.
• Detailed subject knowledge in muscle biology and pathophysiology of muscle diseases.
• High level of analytical and problem-solving capability.
• Ability to communicate complex information with clarity.
• Experience of research with clear transferable skills.
• Presentations at conferences and/or high-quality publications.
• Hands-on experience in the analysis of large-scale omics data.
• Previous experience with proteomic or metabolomic studies.
• Experience in working with human tissue samples.
• Knowledge of molecular biology techniques, especially with protein analysis.
• Experience in cell culture, especially of muscle-derived cells.

Desirable

• Previous experience with spatial proteomic techniques (e.g., MALDI Imaging).
• Experience in the setup or development of new protocols for protein/metabolite detection.
• Proficiency in programming (e.g., using Linux/Python and R).

Attributes and Behaviour

Essential

• Hardworking and able to take initiative.
• Good time management and ability to prioritize to meet deadlines.

Qualifications

• Good honours degree (or equivalent) with subject knowledge in the relevant area (Research Assistant).
• A PhD in the research area required (Research Associate).

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. 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 and celebrate the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.

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. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.

Requisition ID: 27744