Research Associate in Autoantibody Discovery

About the role

The post holder will join the Serology Research Group to undertake specific projects related to developing and optimising immunoprecipitation directly coupled to mass spectrometry to identify autoantibodies in sera from patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. The projects have been funded by research grants from charities SRUK and BIRD.

1. Deciphering Seronegative Systemic Sclerosis: This project aims to identify autoantibodies in patients with the Rheumatic Disease Systemic sclerosis who have previously been found to be autoantibody negative utilising immunoprecipitation directly coupled to mass spectrometry.
2. Does Immunoprecipitation coupled with high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry provide equivalent autoantibody diagnostic capabilities to conventional radio-immunopreciptation? This project aims to determine if immunoprecipitation directly coupled to mass spectrometry can identify known myositis and systemic sclerosis autoantibodies as effectively as protein radio-immunoprecipitation.

The Serology group have internationally recognised expertise in identifying autoantibodies in Rheumatic disease, particularly Myositis. This is an interdisciplinary project and you will work closely with health professionals and clinical scientists. The research group host PhD students and clinical fellows the role will include provision of some laboratory supervision and training, in addition to general laboratory management.

About you

The ideal candidate will have a detailed knowledge and previous experience of performing the laboratory techniques involved, (radioimmunoprecipitation, immunoprecipitation and sample preparation for mass spectrometry analysis) including experience with mass spectrometry data analysis. They will have experience in presenting their research findings at conferences and in paper publications. You will hold a PhD in the relevant discipline.

Further information

For an informal discussion relating to this vacancy, please contact Sarah Tansley slt32@bath.ac.uk or, Neil McHugh prsnjm@bath.ac.uk

Interviews are to be carried out on either the 14th or 15th January 2026, the date will be finalised upon shortlisting.

As a member of Research Staff at the University of Bath, you will be encouraged to take up a minimum of 10 days professional development pro rata per year

A lower grade offer may be made (Grade 6) with comparable reduction in responsibilities and amendment in job title to Research Assistant, if a suitable applicant cannot be found to fill the Grade 7 position. Applicants will need to be within six months of their course completion date and will be promoted to Research Associate once their PhD has been awarded.

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