Senior Research Associate in Protein Engineering

1000scholars; West of England; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Bristol is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join Professor Ashley Toye's group in the School of Biochemistry. This full-time fixed-term role (35 hours per week) is funded by Dstl and runs until 31 March 2027.

You will design, produce and characterise recombinant proteins, assess their interactions with red blood cells, and use flow cytometry and microfluidic flow systems across collaborations in protein engineering and biochemistry.

Qualifications

• PhD in biochemistry, molecular biology, protein engineering, synthetic biology or related discipline.
• Experience with recombinant DNA methods, bacterial protein expression and protein purification.
• Ability to design experiments and interpret quantitative results.

Responsibilities

• Design, produce and characterize recombinant proteins and investigate their interactions with red blood cells.
• Plan and troubleshoot experiments and analyse quantitative data.
• Maintain accurate records and contribute to meetings and final report.

Skills

Recombinant DNA methods

Bacterial protein expression

Protein purification

Flow cytometry

Mammalian expression

Enzyme assays

Microfluidics

Computational protein design

Education

PhD in biochemistry, molecular biology, protein engineering, synthetic biology or related discipline

Tools

Molecular cloning

Affinity chromatography

Size-exclusion chromatography

Microfluidic systems

Biochemical activity assays

Mammalian expression

Job description

The role

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join Professor Ashley Toye's group in the School of Biochemistry at the University of Bristol. This full-time position (35 hours per week) is offered on a six-month fixed-term contract funded by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl).

The Toye group studies red blood cell biology and develops approaches that use red blood cells as platforms for biologically active proteins. You will contribute to a collaborative feasibility study at the interface of protein engineering, biochemistry and red blood cell biology.

What will you be doing?

You will design, produce and characterise recombinant proteins and investigate their interactions with red blood cells. The work will involve molecular cloning, bacterial protein expression, affinity and size exclusion chromatography, and biochemical activity assays. You will assess cell binding and retention using flow cytometry and microfluidic flow systems, with mammalian protein expression where required.

You will plan and troubleshoot experiments, analyse quantitative data, maintain accurate records and contribute to project meetings, progress updates and the final report.

You should apply if

You hold a PhD in biochemistry, molecular biology, protein engineering, synthetic biology or a related discipline, or have submitted your thesis with the award expected before the appointment begins. You have practical experience of recombinant DNA methods, bacterial protein expression and protein purification, and can design experiments and interpret quantitative results.

You can organise your work to meet deadlines and communicate clearly within a collaborative team. Experience of red blood cell biology, flow cytometry, mammalian expression, enzyme assays, microfluidics or computational protein design would be an advantage.

Additional information

Contract type: Fixed-term funding until 31/03/2027

Work pattern: Full-time (100% time)

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on Sunday 25th October 2026

For informal queries please contact: Prof Ashley Toye ([e-mail])

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£44,746 to £50,253 p.a, Grade: J