Job Description

Salary:

Research Assistant - £33,951 to £35,608 per annum

Research Associate - £36,636 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 July 2026

The Role

We are excited to announce that a research assistant/research associate position is available in the Haematopoiesis and Immunogenomics Lab (HI Lab) at Newcastle University, to cover maternity leave. The postholder will join a research programme focused on understanding how human immunity is generated and regulated through haematopoiesis. Effective immune function depends on the coordinated production of specialised cell types, a process governed by complex networks of transcription factors. However, the mechanisms by which these factors maintain homeostasis in health while enabling adaptive responses to external challenges such as infection and cancer remain poorly defined.

Working within a multidisciplinary and translational research environment, the postholder will apply cutting-edge cell culture, transcriptomic, epigenetic, and genomic approaches to dissect transcription factor function and developmental pathways at single-cell resolution. This includes the use of advanced single-cell multiomics, functional genomics, and integrative computational analyses to define how transcriptional networks control immune cell differentiation and function, and how inter-individual genetic variation shapes immune responses.

A key component of the position will be the translation of mechanistic insights into novel therapeutic strategies. This includes leveraging discoveries in transcriptional and cellular regulation to inform the development of next-generation cellular therapies aimed at manipulating human immunity. These may include engineered immune cell products, dendritic cell-based immunotherapies, or approaches to enhance immune reconstitution and anti-tumour immunity in the context of transplantation, infection, and cancer.

The postholder will contribute to the design and execution of experiments, analysis of high-dimensional datasets, and dissemination of findings through high-impact publications and presentations.

Experience in cell culture, multi-parameter flow cytometry and single cell technologies is critical. Experience in industry is desirable. The applicant must hold a PhD or be within a few months of submitting a PhD thesis.

The post is full time, fixed term for up to 10 months, depending on start date.

Applicants are encouraged to make informal enquiries to Dr Venetia Bigley ( venetia.bigley@ncl.ac.uk)

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of Research Innovation Role Profiles.pdf These profiles set out firstly the generic competencies and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and, secondly, the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.

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/

Contact for the post is Dr Venetia Bigley ( venetia.bigley@newcastle.ac.uk)

Key Accountabilities

Research Assistant

• Collect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes
• Co-ordinate own work with that of others, use problem solving to affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project(s)
• Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project
• Write up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project’s dissemination, in whatever form (report, papers, chapters, books)
• Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate

Research Associate

• Contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of the project
• Determine appropriate methodologies for research
• Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations
• Contribute to the writing up of the research and its 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
• Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and develop own research objectives and proposals for funding

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Research Assistant

• Ability to set up and run multi-parameter flow cytometry experiments and interpret data (including R, GraphPad Prism, Flowjo)
• Ability to set up, maintain and analyse human stem cell differentiation cultures in vitro
• Ability to handle, prepare and store limited human samples as viable cells
• Ability to perform single cell experiments including phenotyping and transcriptomic analyses
• Experience programming, including in R and Python
• Attention to detail and ability to work at high levels of accuracy
• Ability to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences
• Proven ability to analyse data and write-up results
• Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues
• Excellent IT skills in all major office applications
• The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems

In addition for Research Associate

• Awareness of the research environment
• High level of analytical and problem solving capacity
• Ability to communicate complex information with clarity
• Experience of presentations at conferences and/or in high quality publications

Attributes and Behaviour

• Commitment to working positively as a member of a multi-skilled research team
• Ability to negotiate and prioritise multiple, competing responsibilities and to work to deadlines
• Commitment to continued professional development
• Understanding of and commitment to good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity

Qualifications

Research Assistant

• Honours degree in immunology, haematology, molecular biology, or biosciences
• Masters in Immunology, chronic disease or a related area
• Be within a few months of submitting PhD thesis (3rd or 4th year PhD)

In addition for Research Associate

• PhD in immunology, haematology, molecular biology or single cell technologies or similar

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 Gold 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: 29476