Research Assistant​/Associate

Research Assistant: £33,951 to £34,610 per annum

Research Associate: £36,636 per annum

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 you.

Closing Date: 22 May 2026

We have an exciting opportunity to work on an MRC‑funded project investigating the mechanistic role of PFKFB3 in Metabolic dysfunction associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and Liver cancer. The project is led by Professor Fiona Oakley in collaboration with Edinburgh University.

You will be embedded within the Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group in the Biosciences Institute at Newcastle University, and the project will involve tissue cultures of pre‑clinical models and complex cell cultures (including ex vivo precision cut liver or tumour slice cultures), to explore the impact of cell‑specific modulation of PFKFB3 to interrogate the disease biology, identify new drug targets. The project will involve advanced histological, biochemical and molecular approaches.

You will be responsible for collection, processing, analysis, presentation (writing, graph production, image production and oral presentations at national/international conferences) and storage of experimental data in accurate, secure, detailed and up‑to‑date records of all work carried out to GLP standard.

You will use your knowledge and experience of liver fibrosis and liver cancer, in vivo models to deliver this challenging project.

This post is full time, fixed term for a period of 2 years.

• Although working under the general guidance of an academic or Principal Investigator, the postholder will contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of their studies, thus providing substantial 'added value'
• Develop and carry out the specified project using appropriate techniques and equipment as outlined in the personal requirements
• Determine appropriate methodologies for research, with advice and support where required
• Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and in time develop own research objectives and proposals for funding
• Begin to write, with appropriate support, proposals for individual research funding or, where funders do not permit this, contribute to the writing of collective bids
• Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations
• Contribute to the writing up of their research for publication and dissemination, either through seminar and conference presentations or through publications
• Present research findings, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the discipline
• May be involved in the supervision, with guidance, of final year undergraduate research projects and in providing support to postgraduate research students or Research Assistants
• Will need to work with the support staff and, on occasions, with undergraduate and postgraduate students, and interact intellectually with other academic members of the Institute
• May contribute to events celebrating the public engagement of science/social sciences/humanities
• Develop an awareness of University structures, policies and procedures and relevant issues in the higher education, research, social and political environment

• Detailed knowledge of the molecular and immunological mechanisms of liver fibrosis and liver cancer biology
• Ability to work well as part of a team and rapidly acquire new skills
• Likelihood of advanced skills directly related to the research projects
• High level of analytical and problem‑solving capability
• Ability to communicate complex information with clarity and to encourage the commitment of others
• Experience of research with clear transferable skills and some experience or awareness of the research environment
• Presentations at conferences and/or high‑quality publications
• The ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and manage and co‑ordinate complex projects across multiple research teams
• Experience of working with mouse models of liver fibrosis and/or liver cancer
• Excellent…