Research Associate - Proteomics

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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: 19 October 2026

You will join the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, an internationally recognised centre of excellence in neuromuscular disease research, embedded within a multidisciplinary environment of clinicians, scientists, and computational researchers. This postdoctoral position offers a distinctive opportunity to contribute to an ambitious and collaborative programme focused on the "dark proteome" in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), in partnership with leading groups at the Human Technopole in Milan, Italy, and University of Colorado Anschutz, USA.

A central aspect of the role will be the preparation, processing and analysis of skeletal muscle samples for proteomic and transcriptomic workflows, requiring hands‑on expertise in working with complex tissues. The postholder will lead on optimising and implementing these sample preparation workflows, while also contributing to downstream data interpretation within a proteogenomic workflow. In addition to this project, the candidate will support and contribute to related proteomics and omics studies within the Centre, making this an ideal role for a researcher seeking to combine technical leadership with broader involvement in translational research.

The main project aims to characterise the "dark proteome" in FSHD, with a focus on identifying previously unannotated or poorly characterised protein species arising from non-canonical translation and related mechanisms. Using patient-derived skeletal muscle biopsies and complementary experimental systems, the study will generate high-quality proteomic datasets, with particular emphasis on robust and reproducible sample preparation from challenging tissue. These data will be integrated with transcriptomic and clinical datasets to uncover novel disease mechanisms, identify candidate biomarkers, and inform therapeutic development.

The collaboration with partners at the Human Technopole provides access to complementary expertise and advanced analytical approaches, allowing a comprehensive and high-impact investigation into previously unexplored aspects of muscle biology in FSHD.

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.

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Please note if you are successful in the role, you will require medial clearance before commencing the role.

• 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, 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
• Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and develop own research objectives and proposals for funding
• Lead the preparation and processing of skeletal muscle and related biological samples for transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, including optimisation and implementation of robust workflows for complex tissues
• Design, perform, and troubleshoot RNA and protein extraction, digestion, and sample quality control procedures to ensure high-quality and reproducible outputs for downstream mass spectrometry
• Coordinate with internal and external facilities (e.g, collaboration with HT in Milan) to support data generation, ensuring…