Research Associate - Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom - Newcastle University

Newcastle University
Newcastle University
Verified Company
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

Tom O´Connor

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Tom O´Connor

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Description

Salary:
£33,348 to £35,308 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: 13 July 2023

The Role


We are looking for a postdoctoral research scientist to join the Newcastle Liver Research Group within the Translational and Clinical Research Institute, under the guidance of Professors Quentin Anstee and Ann Daly.

You will pursue a project studying the mechanistic drivers of progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to cirrhosis and chronic liver failure as part of a new international research consortium.

Through this research, we aim to identify new biomarkers of disease severity and novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of advanced liver disease and related disorders.


Using blood and tissue samples from a large, well phenotyped longitudinal patient cohort, you will use state-of-the art technologies to deeply characterise the underlying pathophysiological processes in advanced liver disease.

You will investigate how dynamic, temporal changes in the transcriptome and proteome influence evolution of the inflammatory/fibrotic microenvironment within the liver and systemically, and how these impact on long-term disease outcomes and survival.

Scientific Background and challenge. Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a common condition, strongly associated with the Metabolic Syndrome.

NAFLD prevalence has increased dramatically in concert with the rapidly progressing epidemics of both adult and childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes.

This condition often progresses into liver inflammation (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, NASH), leading to fibrosis and then on to cirrhosis and liver cancer, with associated high mortality.

NAFLD is characterised by substantial inter-patient variability in severity, rate of progression liver disease, and outcomes - the cause for which remains incompletely understood.

The problem of predicting which patients will progress to cirrhosis or experience liver failure, and how quickly, is therefore both complex and relevant.

The post is offered on a fixed term basis for a period of 3 years.

Find out more about our Research Institutes here.


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, you 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
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 your 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
To work with 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
To deliver high impact research on the molecular biology of NAFLD/NASH and project milestones
DNA and RNA isolation from biopsy and blood samples
To be responsible for day-to-day management of experimental work involving biochemical, molecular and in vitro (cell culture) studies
To be responsible for collection, processing, analysis, presentation (writing, graph production, image production and oral presentations at national/international conferences or consortium progress meetings) and storage of experimental data
To operate as a team member aiding other members of the research group in their experimental work as and when required

The Person (Essential)

Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Ability to w
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