Salary:
Research Assistant: £33,002 to £34,610 per annum
Research Associate: £35,608 to £46,049 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: 03 October 2025
The Role
Your role as a Research Assistant/Associate will be to support project aims on a grant programme designed to better understand cell division errors in mammalian oocytes. You will harvest, culture and apply various imaging and micromanipulation techniques
to mouse oocytes. This is fundamental biosciences research with links to understanding infertility. You will help develop novel imaging approaches and a micromanipulation technique that is new to the lab. The role offers an excellent opportunity to be involved in cutting edge method development using state-of-the-art facilities with expert support. You will benefit from tailored mentoring, and work closely with external collaborators. In addition, you will help supervise undergraduate and MRes project students, making this shorter contract an ideal position to gain varied important post-doctoral experience.
Specifically, the project is focused on monitoring a panel of critical regulatory proteins through meiosis I cell division in oocytes, assessing changes in levels and localisation
.
You will join a vibrant interdisciplinary team of researchers within Newcastle’s Cells, Genes and Molecules Theme, presenting work at lab meetings and likely one national conference within the time frame.
This post is full time, fixed term for a period of 10 months or unril 31 August 2026 whichever is soonest.
For informal enquiries contact: # out more about the Faculty of Medical Sciences here:
ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/
Find out more about our Research Institutes here:
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 in the area of research
-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
-Ability to work well as part of a team and unsupervised on own initiative
-Substantial experience of oocyte cell culture, mammalian oocyte quality assessment and imaging techniques. This is essential to be productive over the shorter timeframe of the contract.
-Ability to manage complex workload
-Systematic approach to project planning, time-management, organisation and prioritisation, with the ability to set and update realistic goals
-Flexibility and ability to multitask
Desirable
- Experience of the application imaging mass cytometry
Attributes and Behaviour
-Ability to work well as part of a team and unsupervised on own initiative
-Ability to respond enthusiastically and positively to students
-Consistent and appropriate approach to staff and situations
Qualifications
-A PhD in relevant area (required for appointment at Associate level)
-Honors degree in relevant subject or close to submission of PhD (for appointment at Assistant level)
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: 28607
