Salary
Research Assistant - £34,630 - £36,320 per annum.
Research Associate - £37,369 - £39,560 per annum.
Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.
Closing Date: 20 November 2026
The Role
Join the Newcastle CRUK Drug Discovery Group, a large multidisciplinary team which is part of Cancer Research Horizons Therapeutic Innovation, the Newcastle Cancer Centre and the Translational and Clinical Research Institute. The Group uses structural, chemical and cell biological approaches to discover and validate novel therapeutic targets in cancer in collaboration with industrial partners.
The position is for a new 18-month project funded by CRUK and aligned with the group’s translational program. It will focus on the validation of emerging drug targets in squamous cancers. Working with academic and drug discovery experts, including external collaborators, the post holder will generate biological evidence to support the development of a novel therapeutic strategy.
You will be responsible for designing, developing and deploying genetic and pharmacological strategies to investigate target function and therapeutic potential; including tool compounds, RNAi, CRISPR-mediated gene editing, and inducible degron systems in human tumour cell models. Research activities include analysis of molecular and cellular responses, identification of pharmacodynamic biomarkers, and evaluation of target dependency using a range of mechanistic and phenotypic assays.
In addition to conducting high-quality research with defined milestones, the post holder will contribute directly to activities that inform drug discovery decision-making, providing an opportunity to gain experience of the translational pathway from target identification through to therapeutic development.
The successful candidate will have a strong background in cancer cell signalling and experience of modern genetic manipulation techniques, together with an interest in applying these approaches within a multidisciplinary drug discovery environment.
Informal approaches can be made to Dr Ute Jungwirth (ute.jungwirth@ncl.ac.uk).
For your application, please provide a CV and cover letter highlighting the relevant experience you would bring to the post (no longer than 2 pages).
Find out more about the Faculty of Medical Sciences here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medicalsciences/.
Find out more about the Newcastle CRUK Drug Discovery here: https://research.ncl.ac.uk/drugdiscovery.
Duration of post is until 30/04/2028 with the opportunity to be extended (Starting date: January 2027).
What happens next: Applications will be assessed by a panel, and in-person interviews will be held in the week commencing the first week in December.
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.
Newcastle University is committed to the responsible use of research metrics as part of our research culture and research strategy. We advocate for the transparent, appropriate, and inclusive use of metrics, guided by expert judgment, to support high-quality, impactful research that is open, collaborative and sustainable. Click here for our full policy statement on the Responsible use of Research Metrics. Click here for a self-study e-learning module on the Responsible Use of Research Metrics.
Key Accountabilities
Research Assistant
- Determine and apply appropriate methodologies for research:
- Genetic manipulation using RNAi, CRISPR/Cas9, inducible degron systems, and inducible or constitutive expression systems.
- Molecular analyses of preclinical samples, including RNA, DNA and protein profiling through techniques such as RNA sequencing, qPCR, western blotting, flow cytometry, ELISA and immunofluorescent imaging.
- Designing and performing cell-based functional assays to evaluate the impact of target manipulation on tumour cell biology, including proliferation, survival, apoptosis and other mechanistic or phenotypic readouts.
- Interrogating proprietary and publically available datasets of mRNA expression, DNA copy number, mutations and re-arrangements, from both clinical samples and tumour cell lines, to examine target expression in disease and assist the selection of appropriate model systems.
- Collect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes.
- Co-ordinate own work with that of others, use problem solving to affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project(s).
- Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project.
- Write up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project’s dissemination, in whatever form (report, papers, chapters, books).
- Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate.
In addition for Research Associate
- Contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of the project.
- Determine appropriate methodologies for research.
- Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations.
- Carrying out meticulous recording, storage and archiving of data, and perform statistical and data analyses to produce robust and reproducible data.
- Contribute to the effective operation of the laboratory through participation in group meetings, maintenance of safety and regulatory documentation, and support for general laboratory management activities such as purchasing and equipment maintenance.
- Contribute to the writing up of the research and its dissemination, through seminar and conference presentations, publications and reports to the external funder.
- Present research findings, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the discipline.
- Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and develop own research objectives and proposals for funding.
The Person
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Research Assistant
- Experience of:
- mammalian cell culture (adherent cells), western blotting, qPCR, transfection methodologies, plasmid construct design, subcloning, site-directed mutagenesis.
- gene-silencing and gene-editing methods for target validation purposes (RNAi, CRISPR, degron system).
- The ability to identify and develop new technologies and methods relevant to the post.
- Cancer research experience in an academic or industry setting.
- A high level of analytical skills and capacity for original thought and data critique.
- Attention to detail and ability to work at high levels of accuracy
- Ability to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences
- Proven ability to analyse data and write-up results
- Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues
- Excellent IT skills in all major office applications
- The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems.
Research Associate
- Awareness of the research environment
- High level of analytical and problem solving capacity
- Ability to communicate complex information with clarity
- Experience of presentations at conferences and in high quality publications appropriate to career stage
Desirable
- Expertise in the analysis of mRNA (RNASeq) and genomic datasets.
- Post-doctoral research experience in an academic or industry setting.
- Previous experience of working in collaboration with industrial partners.
Attributes and Behaviour
- Clear commitment to a career in cancer research and drug discovery.
- Willingness to undertake occasional work outside of normal working hours.
- Flexibility to participate fully in multi-centre collaborations.
- Enthusiastic, flexible, and hard working with the ability to work to tight deadlines for project milestones.
- Commitment to working positively as a member of a multi-skilled research team.
- Ability to negotiate and prioritise multiple, competing responsibilities and to work to deadlines.
- Commitment to continued professional development
- Understanding of good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity
Qualifications
Research Assistant
- A PhD within 3 months of completion in cell biology or related discipline – preferably within the field of cancer research or drug discovery.
- Honours degree (or equivalent) in a biological discipline.
Desirable
- Masters qualification in a relevant subject
In addition for Research Associate
- A PhD awarded in cell biology or related discipline – preferably within the field of cancer research or drug discovery.
Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.
We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.
At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.
In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.
Requisition ID: 29928
