Research Assistant/Associate

Salary: 

Research Assistant: £34,630 to £36,320 per annum

Research Associate: £37,369 to £46,970 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: 12 November 2026

The Role

We are excited to offer an opportunity for a Research Assistant/ Associate in Neuromuscular Diseases to join the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre (JWMDRC) at Newcastle University.

The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary and internationally recognised research environment bringing together clinicians, basic scientists, bioinformaticians, computational biologists and clinical trial specialists, all working towards the development of innovative therapies for rare neuromuscular diseases.

This 18-month full time fixed position is funded through two industry-supported translational research projects focused on the development of novel therapies to reduce fibrosis and fatty replacement in muscular dystrophies.

The successful applicant will contribute to the preclinical development of innovative therapeutic approaches for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and limb girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDs). The work will involve the isolation and characterisation of primary human muscle cells, including fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs), establishment of cellular disease models, assessment of drug efficacy and cytotoxicity, immunofluorescence and molecular assays, and evaluation of therapeutic candidates in murine models.

The postholder will have the opportunity to participate in every stage of the translational research pipeline, from experiments using patient-derived samples through to in vivo preclinical studies. The projects are delivered in close collaboration with pharmaceutical partners, providing valuable exposure to industry-led drug development and opportunities to interact with external collaborators.

What we offer

The successful candidate will benefit from working within one of Europe's leading neuromuscular research centres, with access to state-of-the-art facilities, unique patient-derived resources, and an extensive international collaborative network. This role offers an excellent opportunity to gain experience in translational drug development for rare diseases while contributing to projects with clear clinical impact.

As this is a laboratory-based role involving human tissue, advanced cell biology techniques and preclinical animal studies, with defined project milestones and ambitious timelines, the successful candidate will be expected to work on-site at the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre. The post is therefore not suitable for part-time or remote working.

The successful candidate will be required to complete the University's standard pre-employment checks, including occupational health clearance where appropriate. Occasional travel within the UK and internationally may be required to attend scientific meetings and meet with academic and industrial collaborators.

The successful candidate will benefit from working within one of Europe's leading neuromuscular research centres, with access to state-of-the-art facilities, unique patient-derived resources, and an extensive international collaborative network. This role offers an excellent opportunity to gain experience in translational drug development for rare diseases while contributing to projects with clear clinical impact. 

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of Research Innovation Role Profiles. 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. 

How to Apply

Please submit the following documents as part of your application:

• A current Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• A cover letter (maximum two pages) explaining your suitability for the role.

In your cover letter, please address the following points:

• Your experience in cell biology, including mammalian cell culture and relevant laboratory techniques.
• Your experience working with primary human tissues or primary cell isolation, where applicable.
• Your experience in planning and delivering independent research projects, including examples of meeting project milestones or deadlines.
• Your motivation for applying for this position and your interest in translational research in neuromuscular diseases.
• Any additional experience relevant to the role, such as preclinical drug development, animal research, transcriptomics, bioinformatics, or collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.

Key Accountabilities 

Research Assistant

• Conduct laboratory-based translational research using primary human muscle cells, including the isolation, culture and characterisation of fibro-adipogenic progenitor (FAP) cells and other muscle-derived cell populations.
• Perform advanced cell biology and pharmacological experiments to evaluate the efficacy and safety of novel therapeutic compounds using human cellular models of muscular dystrophy.
• Contribute to the planning, execution and analysis of preclinical studies in murine models of muscular dystrophy, ensuring compliance with all relevant ethical, regulatory and health and safety requirements.
• Manage experimental workflows, maintain accurate laboratory records, and ensure the timely delivery of project milestones in collaboration with the Principal Investigator and project partners.
• Work collaboratively with academic and industrial collaborators, contributing to regular project meetings and the communication of scientific progress.
• 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.

In addition, for 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

• Demonstrable expertise in mammalian cell biology, including extensive experience in mammalian cell culture, primary cell culture and advanced cell biology techniques.
• Demonstrable experience of conducting in vivo research using murine models, including handling, treatment administration and tissue collection under appropriate ethical approvals.
• Experience working with primary human tissues and/or the isolation and characterisation of primary cells.
• Experience in designing, planning and independently delivering laboratory-based research projects.
• Experience with immunofluorescence microscopy, molecular biology techniques and quantitative analysis of experimental data.
• 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 good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity.

Qualifications

Research Assistant

• PhD (near completion) in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience, Physiology, Pharmacology or another relevant life sciences discipline.

In addition for Research Associate

• PhD awarded in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience, Physiology, Pharmacology or another relevant life sciences discipline.

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: 29806