Research Fellow (Post doctoral)

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,130 to £45,413 with potential progression once in post to £48,149. As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Grade 7, salary £41,671

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to July 2027

Background

To create and contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking a specified range of activities within an established research programme and/or specific research project.

Role Summary

This is a two-year postdoctoral position funded by The Humane Research Trust (THRT) to undertake research into the synthesis and biological studies including targeting, penetration and toxicity of novel metallodrug-coated gold nanoparticles in a 3D-cell culture model of head and neck cancer. This is a highly inter-disciplinary project involving collaboration between Dr Nik Hodges (School of Biosciences) and Professors Zoe Pikramenou and Mike Hannon (School of Chemistry). The successful candidate will have had previous experience at working at the interface between chemistry and biology research. A chemistry background is required with synthetic expertise and experience in the following techniques is highly desirable:

• Synthesis and characterisation of metal complexes and metallodrugs
• Mammalian cell culture including experience of 3D cell culture techniques.
• Confocal microscopy including quantitative image analysis
• Flow cytometry
• General molecular biology techniques such as quantitative PCR and western blotting
• Cell cytotoxicity assessment using biochemical endpoints such as MTT and ATP assays

In addition to project specific requirements described above, the successful candidate is expected to be able to:

• Further the aims of THRT in developing and promoting use of animal free models in biomedical research
• Work within specified research grants and projects and contribute to writing bids 
• Analyse and interpret research findings and results 
• Contribute to generating funding 
• Contribute to manuscript writing 

Main Duties

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD and MSc students where appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods 
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration

Person Specification

• First degree and a PhD relevant to research area or equivalent qualifications
• High level analytical capability
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively 
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort

Informal enquiries to Dr Nikolas Hodges: email: n.hodges@bham.ac.uk

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working

Advert information