Research Assistant

Job description

Salary Range:

£17.39 - £20.43

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, creating a community where colleagues feel respected and valued. We aim to reflect the diversity of our students and communities, and to strengthen our university through collaboration and diverse perspectives, across all roles at the University.

#INT

The postholder will undertake laboratory-based and translational research to support ongoing studies in women's health, including endometriosis and ovarian cancer. Working closely with the Principal Investigator, they will independently perform and optimise a range of molecular and cellular biology techniques, including primary and immortalised cell tissue culture, quantitative PCR (qPCR), Western blotting, immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry, and the processing, storage and analysis of clinical and experimental samples. The postholder will contribute to the organisation and management of laboratory resources, including procurement of consumables and maintenance of the laboratory biobank and associated sample records, ensuring compliance with University, ethical and regulatory requirements. They will be responsible for the accurate collection, analysis and interpretation of experimental data, generation of publication-quality figures and datasets, and preparation of reports to support research outputs. The role will involve contributing to the writing and submission of peer-reviewed publications, conference abstracts, presentations at conferences and competitive research grant applications. The successful candidate will be expected to collaborate effectively with academic, clinical and external partners, provide technical guidance and training to undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students, and contribute to maintaining a safe, efficient and productive research environment. They will be encouraged to develop their own research profile while supporting the strategic research objectives of the Guinn Lab, the Centre for Biomedicine and Hull York Medical School. Flexibility is offered in this post to support the writing of your thesis as you finish your own PhD and training in techniques you are not familiar with and support as you learn our systems will be provided. Expect regular meetings with the head of the lab and access as required to ask questions and seek guidance, including on your CV and career progression.

GENERIC JOB DESCRIPTION

The job duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of the role. The duties and responsibilities and the balance between the elements in the role may change or vary over time depending on the specific needs at a specific point in time or due to changing needs in the department. Candidates should note that there may not be an immediate requirement to carry out all the activities listed below.
Overall Purpose of the Role

The researcher at this level will be:

• An experienced and professional researcher and will be a subject specialist, drawing upon knowledge gained from postgraduate research and/or working within a Research Band 6 role.
• Associated with a particular project (or projects) and will contribute ideas, and/or enhancement of techniques or methodologies and be expected to take significant initiatives in their work and consult with the Principal Investigator over the details of the project. They will work under supervision and receive academic, pastoral support and guidance which may include specific training, career opportunities and mentoring.

They may contribute to the Department's teaching, through supervision of projects, overseeing practical classes, or taking small group tutorial classes.

The main focus of the work will involve conducting individual and collaborative research projects under the general guidance of a senior academic or Principal Investigator using new research techniques and methods, analysing and interpreting data and writing up research for publication.

Main Work Activities

1. Conduct individual and collaborative research projects to include:

• Using expertise to carry out projects they are working on.

• Contribute to the preparing proposals and applications for external bodies, e.g. for funding and contractual purposes with appropriate support or contribute to the writing of collective bids.

• Use new research techniques and methods.

• Analyse and interpret research data.

• Write up research work of the project and its dissemination through seminar and conferences presentations and publications.

2. Responsible for the management of projects to include:

• Plan and manage own research activity in collaboration with others.

• Manage administrative activities with guidance if required.

• Plan and monitor the work of the project or projects if applicable.

3. Assist with teaching and learning support in own area of study to include:

• Assist in the development of student research skills.

• Assess student knowledge and supervision of projects.

• Supervise and guide final year students.

4. Develop and initiate collaborative working internally and externally to include:

• Build internal contacts and participate in internal networks for exchange of information and to form relationships for future collaboration and to progress their research.

• Develop links and join external networks to share information and identify future potential sources of funding.

• Work with colleagues on joint projects as required.

• Attend and contribute to relevant meetings.

5. Demonstrate evidence of own personal and professional development to include:

• Continually update knowledge and understanding in field or specialism.

• Appraisal, induction and performance reviews.

• Participate in training and development activity.

• Maintain links with professional institutions and other related bodies.

• Collaborate with academic colleagues on areas of shared research interest.

Additionally the post holder will be required to:

• Fulfil the employees' duties described in the University's health and safety policies and co-operate with the health and safety arrangements in place within the department. May be required to undertake specific health and safety roles on request e.g. Display screen equipment assessor, departmental safety officer, fire warden etc.
  • Show a commitment to diversity, equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices this includes undertaking mandatory equality and diversity training.
  • Comply with University regulations, policies and procedures.

Applications close at 00:01am of the closing date listed. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications. If you are interested in this role, please submit your application as early as possible.