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. 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: 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 analyse 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  

Find out more about the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre here: https://jwmdrc.org/

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

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 .  
•    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 
•    Hands-on experience in the analysis of large-scale omics data, including complex multistage pipeline development, reporting, and troubleshooting 
•    Previous experience with proteomic or metabolomic studies
•    Experience in working with human tissue samples 
•    Knowledge of and experience with molecular biology techniques, especially with protein analysis and quantification 
•    Experience in cell culture, especially of muscle-derived cells such as myoblasts and mesenchymal progenitors 

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), command-line applications, and programming standards such as version control

Attributes and Behaviour

Essential
•    Advanced skills directly related to the research projects 
•    Hardworking and able to take initiative. 
•    Ability to communicate complex information with clarity and to encourage the commitment of others 
•    Good time management and ability to prioritise to meet deadlines 

Qualifications

•    Good honours degree (or equivalent) with some 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.  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: 27744