Postdoctoral Research Scientist

University of Oxford; Packmoor; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in the UK is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Scientist for a project aimed at assessing a rapid, point-of-care urinary test for detecting intravascular haemolysis. The ideal candidate will have a strong laboratory background, excellent organizational skills, and a keen interest in translational research. Responsibilities include recruiting participants and coordinating testing, while collaborating closely with clinical and industry partners. This fixed-term role offers a supportive working environment and numerous benefits including excellent pension and annual leave.

Benefits

Excellent contributory pension scheme

38 days annual leave

Comprehensive range of childcare services

Family leave schemes

Cycle and electric car loan schemes

Employee Assistance Programme

Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs

Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans

Qualifications

• Experience in handling patient samples and assays.
• Familiarity with data analysis in a research context.
• Keen interest in the interface of physiology, haematology and diagnostics.

Responsibilities

• Assess device feasibility in sickle cell disease patients.
• Recruit and manage longitudinal testing with participants.
• Coordinate with clinical partners and assist in technology development.

Skills

Strong laboratory background in biomedical or life sciences

Excellent organizational skills

Interest in translational research

Education

PhD or equivalent in a related field

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Scientist - Clinical feasibility study of a rapid, point-of-care urinary test for detecting intravascular haemolysis

Contract & job type: Fixed-term for 12 months

About us

At the Department of Physiology Anatomy & Genetics (DPAG) we undertake discovery science where we reassemble physiological processes at the molecular, cellular, tissue and systems level of organization. In so doing we provide a bridge to translational medicine, and interface between physical and life sciences. We are committed not only to innovative research and the highest standard of teaching, but also to creating an inclusive and supportive working environment.

Overview of the role

Red blood cells (RBCs) circulate through every vascularised tissue and encounter mechanical, chemical, metabolic, infective and immunological stresses. With limited repair capacity, RBCs can accumulate damage to the point of rupture (“intravascular haemolysis”), a sentinel of diverse disease triggers that affect ~300,000 people in the UK and millions globally. Yet current tests require blood sampling, trained staff and laboratory assays, making frequent monitoring impractical, particularly in low-resource settings. There is an unmet need for a low-cost test that detects a haemolysis marker in easily accessible fluids such as urine. We discovered that carbonic anhydrase 1 (CA1)—a small protein abundant and specific to RBCs—is released and excreted in urine during intravascular haemolysis. Building on this biomarker, we developed a lateral-flow device (LFD) that eliminates blood draws, expensive equipment and specialist training. It addresses limitations of existing blood markers (bilirubin: delayed and indirect; haptoglobin: baseline calibration; LDH: complex assays; blood haemoglobin: lacks specificity; free haemoglobin: low sensitivity). Our innovation enables rapid, frequent testing in clinic and at home.

We are seeking a research assistant to join a project that will assess device feasibility in sickle cell disease, a population with a high haemolysis burden and a recognised diagnostic gap. We will recruit fifty adults for longitudinal testing across home, clinic and hospital settings; manufacture three sensitivity-tuned LFD designs; and compare results with laboratory CA1 assays and blood markers. The project will define clinical utility, refine device specifications, inform regulatory requirements, map cost-effective NHS use cases, and prepare for large-scale testing. The ideal candidate will have a strong laboratory background in biomedical or life sciences, excellent organisational skills, and a keen interest in translational research at the interface of physiology, haematology and diagnostics. The researcher will play a central role in day-to-day delivery of the study, from handling patient samples and assays to data analysis and liaison with clinical and industry partners, and be closely involved in technology development, regulatory evidence preparation, and ethics. Work will be supervised by Pawel Swietach (DPAG) and Noemi Roy (Oxford University Hospitals), in close coordination with our industrial partner, Camtech Innovations who manufacture the LFDs.

Please see our jobs website for further information on the responsibilities and selection criteria.

What we offer

Your wellbeing at work matters, so we offer a range of family friendly and financial benefits including:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days annual leave
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Cycle and electric car loan schemes
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs
• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans

While this is a full-time role, we welcome applications from individuals who wish to be considered for part-time working or other flexible working arrangements.

How to apply

Please provide a supporting statement outlining how you meet the selection criteria along with your CV, and the details of two referees as part of your online application.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 05/01/2026.

Interviews are likely to take place during the week commencing 19/01/2026, and will be held by MS Teams.

Applications are particularly welcome from women, black and minority ethnic candidates who are under-represented in academic posts in Oxford.

Follow us

Stay connected with us on LinkedIn, Bluesky and Instagram to learn more about our work and culture. Informal enquiries about the role may be directed to the DPAG HR Team: [e-mail]

DPAG’s Statement of Inclusion

We, as a Department and Community, will be considerate and welcoming of all people, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and socio-economic background. We acknowledge societal inequalities and how these impact us, and those around us, personally and professionally. Our policies, practices and Respectful Behaviours Framework underpin this commitment.

DPAG and Sustainability

We have signed up to The Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) and Green Impact, actively implementing and encouraging eco-friendly practices that reduce waste, promote energy efficiency, and promote bio-diversity. See the job description for more detail.