Research Assistant: Vivo Biobank

Salary: £31,396 to £32.332 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: 02 February 2024

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity to become involved in a collaborative project between the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the Institute of Cancer Research and VIVO Biobank titled ‘Accelerating Biological Studies of Rhabdomyosarcoma to Improve Patient Outcomes’ and funded by Alice’s Arc children cancer charity.

This position primarily sits within VIVO Biobank, but you will be part of the team working within VIVO Biobank and the Newcastle Biobank under the guidance of Professor Deborah Tweddle and Dr Amy Peasland, delivering retrospective and prospective rhabdomyosarcoma samples and data for the titled project.

You will perform a variety of tasks both within the VIVO Biobank and the Newcastle Biobank under the general direction of the VIVO Biobank Manager. Tasks will involve the use of computer and databases to register and trace samples stored within VIVO Biobank, and laboratory work at the Newcastle Biobank involving sample retrievals and transfer. You will also participate in a sample audit.

This post is offered on a full time or job share basis for a fixed term of 3 years.

For informal enquiries contact: Professor Deborah Tweddle (Deborah.Tweddle@newcastle.ac.uk) and Mr Taofik Adetoro (Taofik.Adetoro@newcastle.ac.uk).

Find out more about VIVO Biobank here: https://vivobiobank.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: 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

• Contribution to the research programme under the clear guidance of a member of an academic staff or Principal Investigator
• Use initiative and creativity to analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes
• Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project
• Write up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project’s dissemination, in whatever form (report, papers, chapters, book)
• Work to deadlines and manage, with support, competing priorities
• Ensure that personal knowledge in relevant fields of study is kept up to date
• Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate
• Maintain academic standards and freedom and work in accordance with university policies (e.g., equal opportunities, health and safety policies)
• Possible supervision and demonstration duties within undergraduate laboratories and example classes or in teaching small seminar classes
• Work with the VIVO Biobank research staff and database manager to extract relevant data to identify and locate samples for the titled project
• Work with the Newcastle Biobank technicians to retrieve samples and transfer to collaborating laboratories
• Liaise with colleagues in VIVO Biobank and Newcastle Biobank on day-to-day activities and issues. This will also include liaising with colleagues at UK Biocentre where some liquid samples may be stored
• Liaise with the project’s Clinical Research Fellow to collect clinical data on a specific proforma
• Liaise with research nurses at different NHS centres to register prospective rhabdomyosarcoma samples in VIVO Biobank
• Co-ordinate own work with that of others, deal with problems which may affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project
• Ensure timely collection of samples from NHS centres and transfer of samples to collaborating laboratories
• Undertake relevant training and development activities to develop capacity for taking on wider responsibilities to provide cover for other VIVO biobank colleagues

The Person 

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Knowledge of clinical and research sample management
• Experience of handling clinical tissue and knowledge of the Human Tissue Act (2004)
• Ability to use knowledge and experience when dealing with Health and Safety
• Previous training in category 2 lab health and safety
• Ability to work well as part of a team and rapidly acquire new skills
• Experience of research with clear transferable skills and experience and awareness of the research environment
• Good level of analytical skills and the ability to communicate complex information clearly, both orally and through the written word
• Good computing skills, ability to graph and statistically analyse data
• Ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve problems
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with colleagues

Desirable

• Experience in working with Excel and database programs
• Experience working in a research lab or a biobank

Attributes and Behaviour

• Ability to work independently
• Well organised, with excellent time management skills
• Motivated and enthusiastic
• Innovative and flexible in approach
• Strong team-working ethos
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Ability to work flexibly

Qualifications

• Good honours degree (or equivalent) in Life Sciences, preferably Biochemistry, Genetics, Physiology, Pharmacology or Biomedical Sciences

Desirable

• Postgraduate research experience gained either via previous employment or during a master’s degree in Life Sciences

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: 26532