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: 21 March 2024
The Role
Following recent success in securing an MRC funded UK Rare Disease Research Platform Node, Renal Ciliopathies National Network – CILIAREN, we are seeking a Research Assistant/Associate to join our internationally renowned multi-disciplinary team in Newcastle.
This position provides an opportunity for an outstanding Research Assistant/Associate to develop their career within a team that brings together clinicians and academics in a vibrant translational research environment that works closely with patients and their families.
(https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/siblings-who-developed-kidney-failure-17535415
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/health/newcastle-university-kidney-research-sayer-15431046 ).
You will be skilled in bioinformatics, large data handling, and experience within Biosciences.
We are looking for an exceptional individual who can learn new laboratory techniques as well as perform in silico data analysis.
Renal ciliopathies are a group of inherited cystic kidney diseases that represent around 10% of all patients with kidney failure. The most prevalent form worldwide is called autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) secondary to mutations in the cystogenes PKD1 and PKD2. Cystogenesis secondary to these mutations is driven by upregulated cAMP which can be modified in animal and human studies by arginine vasopressin antagonists such as tolvaptan. Pharmacological treatments and genetic interventions that prevent or switch off the disease are still lacking. Therapies for the related autosomal recessive (AR) disorders ARPKD and nephronophthisis is completely lacking despite shared disease mechanisms. Collectively these disorders are termed Renal Ciliopathies. The Renal Ciliopathies National Network – CILIAREN, aims to improve genomic interpretation of underlying genetic variants and develop well characterised groups of patients who are trial ready for new personalised medicine treatments. In doing so, we aim to create a national system of support for ciliopathy patients and their families through partnerships with patient groups and charities. This will allow better interfaces with clinical care teams and researchers. We believe that involving using the ADPKD translational pathway we can shape the translational landscape for all Renal Ciliopathies, leading to better mechanistic understandings, well designed preclinical and clinical trials and identifying therapies that would be used in these patient groups.
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/
This post is full time, fixed term for a period of 3 years.
For informal enquiries contact: Professor John Sayer john.sayer@newcastle.ac.uk
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
- Work to promote and uphold a positive research culture within the research environment
The Person
Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
- Ability to work well as part of a team and rapidly acquire new skills
- Detailed subject knowledge on the topic of computational biology
- 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
- Experience with R and python software
Desirable:
- Experience of techniques, such as single cell RNA-seq
- Previous experience with transcriptomic studies
- Experience in cell culture, especially kidney cells
- Experience in analysis of protein expression in tissue samples using immunofluorescence or western-blot
- Experience of mouse genetics
- UK Home Office Personal Licence (PIL A/B)
Attributes and Behaviour
- High level laboratory skills, with attention to detail and the ability to critically analyse and interpret data
- Outstanding organisational and record keeping skills, with the ability to plan and prioritise tasks to meet deadlines
- Ability to contribute ideas and enhancements to develop the project and further research objectives
- Contribution to dissemination of research via seminar, conference presentations or publications
- Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team, but also show strong independent working
Desirable:
- Demonstrate enthusiasm towards scientific engagement
- Confidence and willingness to support and guide research students and junior members of staff
- High level of analytical and problem-solving capability
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: 26764
