Research Assistant

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity for a Research Assistant to work on a project exploiting glycans to develop new treatments for bone metastasis. The project is funded by the Prostate Cancer Research and Breast Cancer Now Bone metastasis collaboration fund and will run alongside other projects in our lab (see: ).

Bone metastasis is a common incurable consequence of both prostate and breast cancer that causes severe pain and fractures and can be devastating for patients. This project will exploit newly developed glyco-immune checkpoints to develop new urgently needed treatments for breast and prostate cancer patients with bone metastasis.

The Research Assistant will use immunohistochemistry to monitor glycans and Siglec receptors in clinical samples from patients with bone metastasis. Alongside this, we will perform pre-clinical evaluation of therapeutic antibodies to test if they can stop tumours growing in bone. The project will utilise a range of in vitro and in vivo models of breast and prostate cancer (including immune cell co-cultures and in vivo mouse models) and includes a collaboration with an industrial partner.

For more information see: PMIDs: ,  and .

This post is fixed term for a period of 18 months

• Contribution to the research programme of the School/Institute under the clear guidance of a member of an academic staff or Principal Investigator.
• Use initiative and creativity to analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes.
• Co‑ordinate own work with that of others, deal with problems which may 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, book).
• Work to deadlines and manage, with support, competing priorities.
• Ensure that personal knowledge in relevant fields of study is kept up to date.
• Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate.
• Maintain academic standards and freedom, and work in accordance with university policies (e.g. equal opportunities, health and safety policies).
• Possible supervision and demonstration duties within undergraduate laboratories and example classes or in teaching small seminar classes.
• Undertake relevant training and development activities to develop capacity for taking on wider responsibilities.
• Develop, with advice, an awareness of own professional development needs and a personal development strategy.

• Some subject knowledge in the relevant area.
• Good level of analytical skills and the ability to communicate complex information clearly, both orally and through the written word.
• The ability to work collaboratively with colleagues.
• The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems.
• Knowledge of prostate cancer, glycosylation and pre‑clinical drug testing.
• Culture of primary and/or immune cells.
• Experience of immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and in vitro cell behaviour assays (cell proliferation, viability).
• Record of completing research, including writing for publications and presentation of data at conferences.
• Publication record in cancer research (or related field).

• Clear commitment to research.
• Excellent team working and communication skills.
• Professional attitude to scholarship and research.
• Strong analytical and experimental planning skills.
• Excellent personal organisation, record keeping and attention to detail.

• Good honours degree (or equivalent) with some subject knowledge in the relevant area.
• May possess (or be working towards) a higher research degree.

Closing Date: 24 December 2025

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…