Research Assistant​/Associate in Translational Cancer Research

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Requisition

Location:

Newcastle, GB

Contract Type:
Fixed Term

Working Pattern:
Full Time

Posted Date: 9 Jul 2026

Research Assistant: £33,951 to £35,608 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: 26 July 2026

We are excited to launch a new opportunity for a Research Assistant or Research Associate to join a multidisciplinary translational cancer research team investigating therapeutic vulnerabilities in neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), with a focus on prostate cancer.

You will be based within the Newcastle University Centre for Cancer working with Dr Daniel Westaby and Dr Luke Gaughan and collaborating with colleagues at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London. The post sits within a translational programme linking laboratory discovery, medical oncology and biomarker-driven therapeutic development.

The project is funded through a pump‑priming translational research programme funded by the JGW Patterson Foundation. It is focused on developing innovative therapeutic strategies that target the intrinsic apoptosis pathway in high‑grade neuroendocrine carcinomas. The expected impact is to generate pre‑clinical evidence, biomarkers and mechanistic insight to support future early phase clinical trial development.

The role will involve establishing and characterising neuroendocrine‑like cancer models, performing pharmacological drug‑screening studies using apoptosis‑targeting agents, and undertaking mechanistic assays to understand treatment response and resistance. You will work closely with clinicians, translational scientists and external collaborators, and will contribute to data analysis, presentations, publications and future grant proposals.

We are particularly keen to hear from candidates with a strong interest in cancer biology and translational research, and experience in cancer cell line models, molecular and cellular biology, drug screening, gene perturbation approaches, cell viability/apoptosis assays and western blotting. You should be organised, collaborative and able to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

This post is fixed term for 12 months, with potential for extension subject to funding. Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to  . Flexible working arrangements may be considered where compatible with project delivery.

We follow the Researcher Development Concordat. We enable all colleagues to fulfil their research potential regardless of career stage. This commitment secures our thriving research culture and vibrant research environment. Our offer to each individual and their researcher development includes mentoring, annual research planning discussions, pooled research funding to support career development and research activities, and peer review support for the development of research and innovation funding applications.

We want you to feel confident when applying for a position with Newcastle University. If you would like an informal discussion to clarify any points, please contact  . We are committed to making the process accessible to everyone and can provide additional support or adjustments to meet your needs.

To apply, please submit a CV and cover letter. Your cover letter should briefly address:

• your relevant experience in cancer biology, molecular biology and/or apoptosis signalling
• your experience using cancer cell line models and laboratory assays relevant to this project
• your experience with drug screening, pharmacological studies or gene perturbation approaches
• your ability to analyse data, solve problems and communicate research findings
• how you would contribute to a collaborative, multidisciplinary research environment

Interviews will be held on a date to be confirmed.

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues,…