{"id":3470348,"url":"https://alion.io/job/newcastle-university-research-assistantassociate","title":"Research Assistant/Associate","company":{"id":20390,"name":"Newcastle University","domain":"ncl.ac.uk","url":"https://alion.io/company/ncl","size_band":"501-1000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"SuccessFactors","truth_index":null},"role":"Science & Research","role_family":"Science & Research","seniority":null,"employment_type":null,"work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Newcastle, United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":34630,"max":36320,"currency":"GBP","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":48591},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Cell Culture","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-29T16:56:55Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-29","last_verified_at":"2026-11-03T00:27:42Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":4,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":4},"description":"Salary:\nResearch Assistant: £34,630 to £36,320 per annum\nResearch Associate: £37,369 to £46,970 per annum\nNewcastle 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.\nClosing Date: 12 November 2026\nThe Role\nWe are excited to offer an opportunity for a Research Assistant/ Associate in Neuromuscular Diseases to join the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre (JWMDRC) at Newcastle University.\nThe successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary and internationally recognised research environment bringing together clinicians, basic scientists, bioinformaticians, computational biologists and clinical trial specialists, all working towards the development of innovative therapies for rare neuromuscular diseases.\nThis 18-month full time fixed position is funded through two industry-supported translational research projects focused on the development of novel therapies to reduce fibrosis and fatty replacement in muscular dystrophies.\nThe successful applicant will contribute to the preclinical development of innovative therapeutic approaches for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and limb girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDs). The work will involve the isolation and characterisation of primary human muscle cells, including fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs), establishment of cellular disease models, assessment of drug efficacy and cytotoxicity, immunofluorescence and molecular assays, and evaluation of therapeutic candidates in murine models.\nThe postholder will have the opportunity to participate in every stage of the translational research pipeline, from experiments using patient-derived samples through to in vivo preclinical studies. The projects are delivered in close collaboration with pharmaceutical partners, providing valuable exposure to industry-led drug development and opportunities to interact with external collaborators.\nWhat we offer\nThe successful candidate will benefit from working within one of Europe's leading neuromuscular research centres, with access to state-of-the-art facilities, unique patient-derived resources, and an extensive international collaborative network. This role offers an excellent opportunity to gain experience in translational drug development for rare diseases while contributing to projects with clear clinical impact.\nAs this is a laboratory-based role involving human tissue, advanced cell biology techniques and preclinical animal studies, with defined project milestones and ambitious timelines, the successful candidate will be expected to work on-site at the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre. The post is therefore not suitable for part-time or remote working.\nThe successful candidate will be required to complete the University's standard pre-employment checks, including occupational health clearance where appropriate. Occasional travel within the UK and internationally may be required to attend scientific meetings and meet with academic and industrial collaborators.\nThe successful candidate will benefit from working within one of Europe's leading neuromuscular research centres, with access to state-of-the-art facilities, unique patient-derived resources, and an extensive international collaborative network. This role offers an excellent opportunity to gain experience in translational drug development for rare diseases while contributing to projects with clear clinical impact.\nAs part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of Research Innovation Role Profiles. 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.\nHow to Apply\nPlease submit the following documents as part of your application:\nA current Curriculum Vitae (CV).\nA cover letter (maximum two pages) explaining your suitability for the role.\nIn your cover letter, please address the following points:\nYour experience in cell biology, including mammalian cell culture and relevant laboratory techniques.\nYour experience working with primary human tissues or primary cell isolation, where applicable.\nYour experience in planning and delivering independent research projects, including examples of meeting project milestones or deadlines.\nYour motivation for applying for this position and your interest in translational research in neuromuscular diseases.\nAny additional experience relevant to the role, such as preclinical drug development, animal research, transcriptomics, bioinformatics, or collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.\nKey Accountabilities\nResearch Assistant\nConduct laboratory-based translational research using primary human muscle cells, including the isolation, culture and characterisation of fibro-adipogenic progenitor (FAP) cells and other muscle-derived cell populations.\nPerform advanced cell biology and pharmacological experiments to evaluate the efficacy and safety of novel therapeutic compounds using human cellular models of muscular dystrophy.\nContribute to the planning, execution and analysis of preclinical studies in murine models of muscular dystrophy, ensuring compliance with all relevant ethical, regulatory and health and safety requirements.\nManage experimental workflows, maintain accurate laboratory records, and ensure the timely delivery of project milestones in collaboration with the Principal Investigator and project partners.\nWork collaboratively with academic and industrial collaborators, contributing to regular project meetings and the communication of scientific progress.\nCollect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes.\nCo-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).\nPresent information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project.\nWrite up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project’s dissemination, in whatever form (report, papers, chapters, books).\nUse research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate.\nIn addition, for Research Associate\nContribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of the project.\nDetermine appropriate methodologies for research.\nAssess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations.\nContribute to the writing up of the research and its dissemination, either through seminar and conference presentations or through publications.\nPresent research findings, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the discipline.\nContribute to grant applications submitted by others and develop own research objectives and proposals for funding.\nThe Person\nKnowledge, Skills and Experience\nResearch Assistant\nDemonstrable expertise in mammalian cell biology, including extensive experience in mammalian cell culture, primary cell culture and advanced cell biology techniques.\nDemonstrable experience of conducting in vivo research using murine models, including handling, treatment administration and tissue collection under appropriate ethical approvals.\nExperience working with primary human tissues and/or the isolation and characterisation of primary cells.\nExperience in designing, planning and independently delivering laboratory-based research projects.\nExperience with immunofluorescence microscopy, molecular biology techniques and quantitative analysis of experimental data.\nAttention to detail and ability to work at high levels of accuracy.\nAbility to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences.\nProven ability to analyse data and write-up results.\nExperience of working collaboratively with colleagues.\nExcellent IT skills in all major office applications.\nThe ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems.\nIn addition for Research Associate\nAwareness of the research environment.\nHigh level of analytical and problem solving capacity.\nAbility to communicate complex information with clarity.\nExperience of presentations at conferences and/or in high quality publications.\nAttributes and Behaviour\nCommitment to working positively as a member of a multi-skilled research team.\nAbility to negotiate and prioritise multiple, competing responsibilities and to work to deadlines.\nCommitment to continued professional development.\nUnderstanding of good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity.\nQualifications\nResearch Assistant\nPhD (near completion) in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience, Physiology, Pharmacology or another relevant life sciences discipline.\nIn addition for Research Associate\nPhD awarded in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience, Physiology, Pharmacology or another relevant life sciences discipline.\nNewcastle 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.\nWe 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.\nAt Newcastle University we hold a GoldAthena 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.\nIn addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.\nRequisition ID: 29806","description_format":"text","description_chars":10567,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"phd","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Professional development"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United Kingdom","iso":"GB","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Higher Education","Research Institutes"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-29T16:56:55Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"GB","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"Licensed UK visa sponsor (Skilled Worker, Senior or Specialist Worker)","filings_12m":null,"filings_prev_12m":null,"green_card_filings_12m":null,"median_offered_wage_usd":null,"route":"Skilled Worker; Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker","cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-31T06:23:40+00:00","sources":["UK Home Office: register of licensed sponsors (workers)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":3,"expected_fill_days":16,"reasons":["conf:2","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-11-02T06:13:15Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":48591,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/newcastle-university-research-assistantassociate","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/newcastle-university-research-assistantassociate.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-03T02:06:08Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":2766,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-04T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":20390},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=20390"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fnewcastle-university-research-assistantassociate"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fnewcastle-university-research-assistantassociate"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fnewcastle-university-research-assistantassociate"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/newcastle-university-research-assistantassociate\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fnewcastle-university-research-assistantassociate"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3470348}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"ncl.ac.uk","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3470348},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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