Address
Form of work
Salary:
Research Assistant: £31,396 to £32,982 per annum
Research Associate: £33,966 to £36,024 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: 11 April 2024
The Role
We are looking for an outstanding individual with expertise in Bacterial Biochemistry; synthetic biology (metabolic engineering); and bioreactor design and operation. Some expertise in standard approaches to membrane- or metallo-protein characterisation would also be an advantage. This post is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). You will join a diverse team of researchers with a passion for taking bio-based approaches to global challenges.
Ideally, you will have experience working in laboratory-based teams and in contributing to the supervision of early-career researchers and undergraduate and postgraduate students. You should be a strong communicator, with the ability to interact positively with researchers from other disciplines in the project and maintain collaborations with our wider stakeholders, including the industry. You must be interested in travelling locally and internationally to different events to help present our research findings. Data handling skills and problem-solving abilities are essential.
The project is cross-disciplinary and involves collaborations with experts in bacterial cell biology. Your main areas of research will involve helping to characterise the activity of a bacterial membrane protein complex involved in anaerobic carbon and hydrogen metabolism. We will take molecular approaches to characterisation involving the isolated enzyme, but also include metabolic and genetic engineering of intact bacterial cells. Anaerobic, gas-pressurized bioreactors will be used to apply our new findings to real-world carbon capture and utilisation projects.
This post is fixed term for a period of 36 Months.
For informal enquiries contact: frank.sargent@newcastle.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 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
- Ability to work well as part of a team and rapidly acquire new skills
- Detailed subject knowledge of bacterial genetics, bacterial bioenergetics, membrane biology, metalloprotein structure/function and/or site-directed mutagenesis/genetic engineering
- 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
Desirable
- Publication of research in peer-reviewed internationally-recognized journals
- Experience in monitoring and managing research resources and adaptability to changing research context and project needs
- Experience of supporting with the planning and management of research dissemination event
Attributes and Behaviour
- Aptitude for working both independently with minimal supervision and as a member of a wider team
- Teaching / demonstrating experience with the ability to communicate effectively in supervising and training students and early career colleagues
- Good time management and problem-solving skills
- Excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills and an ability to collaborate successfully across a range of fields in an interdisciplinary context
- Willingness to travel locally, nationally and on occasion internationally to visit collaborators, present findings and attend conferences.
Desirable
- Skills in organising and delivering networking or training events
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: 26923
