Research Assistant

Full-time: 35 hours per week

Fixed-term: for 36 months

The opportunity:

A research assistant position is available in the research group of Dr. Andrew Maclean (Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh). We are looking for an enthusiastic team player for a wet lab-based role, carrying out research projects as well as supporting other researchers in the lab.

The lab works on Toxoplasma gondii, a highly successful parasite of both humans and animals. Toxoplasma is highly versatile, able to infect all warm-blooded animals, and ubiquitous, with an estimated quarter of the global population chronically infected. As an intracellular parasite it has to obtain all the nutrients it needs to replicate and cause infection from the host-cell environment. The lab aims to identify new routes of nutrient acquisition with a special focus on the uptake of important sulphur-containing nutrients. Understanding unique aspects of parasite metabolism may open up new avenues for therapeutic intervention.

This position will involve pursuing experimental goals, using molecular biology, microscopy and biochemistry techniques to identify and understand factors involved in parasite nutrient acquisition, as well as supporting ongoing research in the Maclean lab (for example with cell culture). There will also be the opportunity to develop further skills in molecular biology and work as part of a team of four scientists.

This post is advertised as full-time (35 hours per week) however, we are open to considering part-time or flexible working patterns.

Your skills and attributes for success:

• Experience in tissue and parasite culture (CL2).
• Knowledge of infection biology and/or biochemistry concepts.
• Molecular biology & microscopy skills.
• Excellent time management and organisation.
• Enjoys working in a team.

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