Research Assistant

Queen's University Belfast; Belfast; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent academic institution in Belfast seeks a motivated individual for research in microbial biochemistry and pathogenesis. The role involves applying techniques in microbial and cellular biochemistry, with a focus on bacterial infections and protein export. Candidates should have relevant qualifications and research experience in molecular biology and microbiology. The position is available for 6 months, with potential for extension based on funding.

Benefits

Equality promotion initiatives

Diversity networks

Qualifications

• Relevant research experience in state-of-the-art molecular microbiology.
• Experience in purifying membrane protein complexes.
• Proven ability in culturing human macrophages and epithelial cells.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on protein export into bacterial membrane vesicles.
• Apply specialized microbial biochemistry techniques.
• Examine effects of bacterial membrane vesicles on immune cells.

Skills

Microbial culture

Molecular biology

Cell biology

Protein purification

Electron microscopy

Education

Degree level qualification in a relevant subject

Tools

Confocal microscopy

Job description

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The Microbial Biochemistry and Pathogenesis group of Professor Valvano, in the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, is looking for an ambitious, highly productive individual with an interest and demonstrated research skills on microbial and cellular biochemistry and cellular models of bacterial infection in macrophages. The candidate will be involved in ongoing and planned research aiming to elucidate a novel secretion system for protein export into bacterial membrane vesicles. The post holder will apply specialized microbial biochemistry techniques for bacterial cell fractionation, purification of protein complexes, analysis of protein-protein interactions including electron microscopy, and cellular biology techniques to examine the effects of bacterial membrane vesicles in primary immune and non-immune (e.g., macrophages and epithelial) cells. Applications are invited from individuals with combined expertise in microbiology and microbial genetics, molecular biology, microbial biochemistry, and cell biology, and strongly demonstrated commitment to research. Examples include relevant research experience in microbial culture, electron microscopy, protein cross-linking, isolation and purification of protein complexes, split nano-Luc and fluorescent protein tagging, etc.

About the person:

The successful candidate must have, and your application should clearly demonstrate that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Degree level qualification or equivalent in a relevant subject.
• Relevant research experience in state-of-the-art molecular (e.g. cloning suing Gibson ligation) and cellular (bacterial infections ineukaryotic cells) microbiology
• Relevant research experience in purification on membrane protein complexes
• Relevant experience in culturing human macrophages and epithelial cells
• Relevant experience with subcellular fractionations of bacterial components
• Relevant experience in confocal and electron microscopy
• Relevant experience on detailed documentation of experimental procedures, data, and results.

To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information.

This post is available for 6 months. Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.

What we offer:

Queen's University is committed to promoting equality of opportunity to all. We subscribe to Equality Charter Marks such as the Diversity Charter Mark NI and Athena Swan and have established staff networks such as iRise (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network) and PRISM (LGBTQ+) which help us progress equality.

If you are an international applicant and don't already hold a visa that permits you to take up the role you are applying for, please use the information provided on our website to self-assess whether the University is likely to be able to support a visa application -