Graduate Research Assistant Exeter, England
Job description
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
This new part-time post is immediately available until 1 March 2024 on a fixed-term term basis.
This role offers the opportunity for hybrid working – some time on campus and some from home.
We welcome applications from candidates interested in working part-time hours or job-sharing arrangements.
The post
The Faculty of Health and Life Sciences wishes to recruit a Graduate Research Associate to support the work of Dr Luciana Torquati. This Royal College of Physicians funded post is available from March 2023 and is funded for a period of 12 months. The successful applicant will be responsible for analysing blood, saliva and faecal samples to measure the effects of a short dietary intervention targeting the gut microbiome. Analytical techniques such as DNA extraction, PCR, DNA sequencing, immunoassays (ELISA) will be employed.
About you
Applicants will be educated to first degree level or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study or equivalent experience and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes.
The successful applicant will have an interest in the gut microbiome and will ideally have excellent wet lab and organisational skills, as well as prior experience working in an experimental lab. Candidates who are at the last stage of their PhD (or equivalent experience) will be viewed with interest, but this is not a prerequisite.
The postholder will be able to work independently and should have experience of conducting DNA extraction and purification from human or biological samples. They will also need to be able to demonstrate excellent wet lab skills and sufficient knowledge of human nutritional physiology as well as discipline-specific research methods and techniques to work within our established research programme.
Time management, independent working and problem-solving skills are essential to this role.
The successful applicant will be able to clearly present information on samples analysis progress and outcomes and have excellent data management and record keeping skills. They will be able to communicate complex information both orally and in writing. They will have excellent writing and data analysis skills (for the career stage) and be able to apply these to the samples/data analysed. They will also be able to work flexibly to adapt to the demands of the job and prioritise tasks accordingly.
It is highly desirable that the successful applicant have prior experience in a research environment and a positive attitude to work as part of a team and as a peer-mentor. Experience of other analytical techniques beyond DNA extraction and immunoassays is welcomed. This post will be working alongside an ongoing human clinical trial. Therefore, applicants with clinical skills and experience (trial management, venepuncture) would be most welcome.
People currently completing a PhD or with equivalent lab experience in human biology, microbiology, immunology, genetics and human physiology are encouraged to apply.
Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role by clicking on the attachment.
What we can offer you
- Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
- Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly;
- An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development;
- Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career;
- A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a new Fertility Treatment Policy;
- A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon.
The University of Exeter
We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 150 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022 and QS World University Ranking 2022). We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2017.
Our research income in recent years means we’re the fastest growing UK Research University with some of the world’s most influential scientists, and we seek to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today through this. 98% of our research is of international quality (2014 Research Excellence Framework). We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment
With over 27,000 students and 6,400 staff from 180 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer. Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. Reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.
For further information please contact Dr Luciana Torquati via e-mail ([email protected]).
The closing date for completed applications is 01/03/2023. Interviews are expected to take place in March 2023. The post is available from March 2023.
