Research Assistant / Associate in Interferonopathy

We are a world class research-intensive university. We deliver teaching and learning of the highest quality. We play a leading role in economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England. Attracting and retaining high-calibre people is fundamental to our continued success.

Salary
Research Assistant: £33,951 - £35,608 per annum.
Research Associate: £36,636 per annum.

The Role
An exciting opportunity arises to contribute to excellent translational immunology research in a superb academic setting. You will join a thriving, internationally recognised team focused on decoding disease mechanism in inborn errors of immunity, led by Prof Sophie Hambleton and Dr Chris Duncan. We share bespoke lab space with a diverse community of researchers in the Immunity and Inflammation Theme, housed in the Leech Building at the heart of Newcastle’s Medical School.

In this project, funded by MRC, we are investigating what cell types are responsible for a devastating neuroinflammatory disease mediated by type I interferon (IFN). Our earlier discovery of a novel inborn error of STAT2’s negative feedback upon IFN signalling has led to a mouse model that faithfully recapitulates human disease. This project explores the cellular drivers of this IFN-mediated neuropathology using conditional in vivo expression of the pathogenic allele in individual cell types, allied with human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) models of the corresponding cell types in vitro. We will also assess novel IFN-I inhibitors developed in partnership with medicinal chemistry collaborators. This project will shed light on direct and indirect pathogenic properties of IFN-I in the CNS, providing a framework for interpreting pathomechanism in neurological disease.

Your role will be integral to the team delivering this research and will call upon core skills such as tissue culture, qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence microscopy, and immunoblotting. The project provides opportunities for additional training and experience in the use of hiPSC-derived in vitro models, live cell imaging as well as mouse husbandry. We follow the Researcher Development Concordat: Researcher Development | Our Research | Newcastle University. We enable all colleagues to fulfil their research potential regardless of career stage. This commitment secures our thriving research culture and a vibrant research environment. Our offer to each individual includes mentoring, annual researcher development discussions, pooled funding to support career development, and peer review support for the development of research and innovation funding applications.

We are keen to hear from those with a passion for translational science and the ability to interact and engage with specialists from diverse perspectives. The present post is funded until October 2027.

How to apply – please provide a CV and cover letter setting out your motivation for applying, your career intentions and evidencing how you meet the essential criteria (available on the university's website, accessed by the 'Apply' button).

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of Research Innovation Role Profiles.pdf. These profiles set out firstly the generic competencies and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and, secondly, the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.

Find out more about the Faculty of Medical Sciences here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/.

Find out more about our Research Institutes here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/research/institutes/translational/.

Contact for the post is:
Dr Christopher Duncan: christopher.duncan@ncl.ac.uk
Prof Sophie Hambleton: sophie.hambleton@ncl.ac.uk

Duration of post is until October 2027.

Advert information