Research Assistant​/Associate in genetics of muscular dystrophies

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Requisition

Location:

Newcastle, GB

Contract Type:
Fixed Term

Working Pattern:
Full Time

Posted Date: 1 Sept 2026

Research Assistant: £33,951 to £35,608 per annum

Research Associate: £36,636 to £38,784 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: 15 September 2026

The Role

We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated Research Assistant or Research Associate to join the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre (JWMDRC) at Newcastle University for a 10-month fixed-term position. The successful candidate will contribute to one of our Next Generation Sequencing projects looking at the genetics of muscular dystrophies, particularly calpainopathies.

Working within a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and scientists, you will play a key role in advancing the understanding of the genetics and variable expression of dominant calpainopathies, through a multi-omics approach.

The role will involve the identification of a suitable study cohort of individuals and families carrying dominant CAPN3 variants. Using genomic and multi-omic approaches, including short- and long-read whole genome sequencing, transcriptomics, proteomics and epigenomic analysis, the study aims to identify genetic and molecular factors that modify disease manifestation and improve the interpretation and diagnosis of CAPN3-related disease.

You will be expected to work independently while contributing to collaborative research activities, maintaining high scientific standards, and delivering project milestones within timelines.

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of Research Innovation Role  . These profiles set out firstly the generic competencies and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and, secondly, the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.

Newcastle University is committed to the responsible use of research metrics as part of our research culture and research strategy. We advocate for the transparent, appropriate, and inclusive use of metrics, guided by expert judgment, to support high-quality, impactful research that is open, collaborative and sustainable.  for our full policy statement on the responsible use of Research Metrics.  for a self-study e-learning module on the Responsible Use of Research Metrics.

• Integrate data from different molecular platforms to identify and prioritise candidate disease modifiers, pathways and mechanisms for further investigation
• Apply and interpret multi-omic approaches, including genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and epigenomic data, to investigate mechanisms underlying these muscle diseases
• Work collaboratively with clinical, bioinformatics and laboratory researchers across the project and contribute, where appropriate, to wider next-generation sequencing and genomic analysis activities within the research group
• Collect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes
• Co-ordinate own work with that of others, use problem solving to 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, books)
• Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate

In addition for Research Associate

• Contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of the project
• Determine appropriate methodologies for research
• Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations
• Contribute to the writing up of the research and its dissemination,…