Postdoctoral Research Associate

Contract type: Fixed term - 12 months

Closing date: 23:59 hours BST on Sunday 26^th July 2026 (unless otherwise stated*)

Interview date: To be confirmed

On the 1^st August 2026, The University of Greenwich and the University of Kent will form a pioneering new multi-university group called London and South- East (LASE) University Group. Should you join us, you will be employed by LASE but will work as part of the University of Kent academic division, contributing to its distinct strengths, community and identity while also being part of a wider group that brings together the scale, resilience and shared ambition of both universities. Through LASE we aim to deliver outstanding education, impactful research, and meaningful regional and global impact.

Are you excited by the opportunity to use cutting-edge imaging techniques to better understand muscle function? If so this role could be ideal.

We’re looking for a bright and enthusiastic Post-Doctoral Research Associate to join Professor Neil Kad’s lab at the University of Kent. This BBSRC-funded interdisciplinary project will use state-of-the-art single molecule imaging techniques to explore how muscle is activated and relaxed, generating insights relevant to both normal and diseased muscle function.

Working with partners in the UK and overseas, including the University of Washington and the University of Kentucky, you’ll use approaches spanning protein biochemistry, single molecule biochemistry and high-resolution imaging. You’ll be supported by a well-equipped lab with dedicated microscopes for single molecule fluorescence imaging, alongside shared School of Biosciences facilities including NMR, Mass Spectrometry, cell biology and super-resolution imaging.

As Postdoctoral Research Associate you can expect to be involved in:

• Designing and delivering research activity using protein biochemistry and imaging techniques
• Generating, isolating and analysing recombinant and tissue-derived proteins
• Developing assay systems and contributing to three-dimensional super-resolution imaging approaches
• Analysing data, publishing findings and presenting research to academic and project audiences

What will you bring to the role?

• A PhD, or near completion, in a relevant scientific discipline
• Experience conducting research projects, including data collection and analysis
• Familiarity with microscopy, high-resolution imaging, assay development, molecular biology or protein purification
• Strong data processing, communication and organisational skills, with a collaborative approach to research

What we can offer in return:

As a member of our team, you can expect a friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing. You'll enjoy a range of great staff benefits including:

• 43 days' leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff)
• Excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions
• Corporate employee-funded healthcare plan, in partnership with Benenden Health

For more information about what you can look forward to if you join us, visit our dedicated webpage: Working at Kent

We are ambitious for our people, our communities and the region we serve – join us in making the world a better place. Visit our website for more on who we are: www.kent.ac.uk/about

Please see the links below to view the full job description and to apply for this post. For further information regarding the application process, please contact peopleserviceshr@kent.ac.uk

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