Postdoctoral Research Associate

Full Time, Fixed Term Role

The closing date for applications is 23.59 on 2nd July 2025

By reference to the applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship may be possible under the Skilled Worker Route. Applicants wishing to consider the SWR must ensure that they are able to meet the points requirement before applying. Successful candidates not already holding a Skilled Worker visa issued before 4th April 2024 will need to have a relevant PhD qualification or qualify as a new entrant before being able to be sponsored. There is further information about visas on the UK Visas and Immigration Website.

Applications are invited for a 10 months fixed term Postdoctoral Research Associate position to develop rapid diagnostic kits using lateral flow assay technology for the detection of Russell’s viper venom in biological/clinical samples. The post holder will be a member of the Professor Vaiyapuri’s laboratories, within the School of Pharmacy but will work closely with the other research groups within the University of Reading, as well as external collaborators specifically Toxiven Biotech in India.

As a high priority neglected tropical disease, snakebite envenoming is the key focus of current research in our groups. Since there is no diagnostic method available to ascertain the presence of venom in snakebite victims in India, this research is an exciting and dynamic field within snakebites and venom pharmacology for an urgent unmet clinical need.

This project funded by the Medical Research Council will develop rapid diagnostic tests using lateral flow assay technology as well as other relevant methods to detect the presence of Russell’s viper venom in patient samples such as plasma, serum, whole blood and urine.

You will have:

• PhD in relevant areas of biomedical sciences, preferably in immunotechnology
• Expertise in cell and molecular biology research with excellent experience in immunoassays is highly desirable
• Familiarity and experience with techniques such as ELISA, lateral flow assay, antibody production and purification will be required
• Experience of working with clinical samples
• Ability to produce and analyse high quality experimental data
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral), both within a team and to others
• Published peer reviewed research articles in high impact journals

For more information, please contact:

Contact Name : Professor Sakthivel Vaiyapuri
Contact Job Title : Principal Investigator
Contact Email address : s.vaiyapuri@reading.ac.uk

Alternative Contact Name: Dr Harry Williams
Alternative Contact Job Title: Project Partner
Alternative Contact Email address: harry@toxiven.com

The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and champions LGBT+ equality. We are a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2). Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.

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