Research Associate; Biophysics

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pension scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

Dividing cells must faithfully segregate meters of DNA, and failures to do so result in DNA damage, contributing to disease. DNA entanglements pose a challenge to dividing cells; hence a range of enzymes are employed to package and resolve entangled DNA. In this post‑doctoral project, you will combine molecular simulation with single‑molecule data to determine structural changes in entangled DNA and consequences for processing.

You will work alongside an interdisciplinary team employing cell biology and protein biochemistry approaches to understand the molecular mechanism underlying chromosome resolution.

Applicants must hold a PhD (or be close to completion/have equivalent post‑doctoral level work experience) in a relevant subject. Experience in either molecular simulations or single‑molecule techniques is also essential. The successful candidate will be encouraged to develop and acquire new skills during their time in the role.

The University of Sheffield has state‑of‑the‑art facilities and equipment required for this project, including a confocal optical tweezer system housed in the Henry Royce Institute, an ever‑expanding biophysics suite in the School of Biosciences, multi‑user GPU clusters and access to national computational resources. The wider University community includes special interest groups such as the Nucleic Acids Institute and the Centre for Single Molecule Biology at Sheffield, which provide additional experience, network and support.

• Perform molecular modelling and molecular dynamics simulations.
• Collect and analyse single‑molecule optical tweezer data.
• Contribute to lab organisation such as ordering, cleaning, training and supervision.
• Perform critical analysis of data and experimental design.
• Present results in the form of publications, figures and presentations.
• Provide support to other members of the research team in the same laboratory in a related field of research.
• Read academic papers, journals and textbooks and attend conferences to keep abreast of developments.
• Create and maintain appropriate records of all work carried out.
• Attend and contribute towards project meetings and research advisory group meetings.
• Carry out other duties commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your experience does not match perfectly with this role’s criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please reference the application criteria in your application statement when you apply.

• Essential (PhD or equivalent)
• Essential (Experience in either molecular simulations or single‑molecule techniques)
• Essential (Effective communication skills, written and verbal, report writing skills, experience of delivering presentations)
• Essential (Able to work in a team with diverse backgrounds)
• Essential (Able to work independently)
• Essential (Demonstrable ability to solve problems and learn new skills)
• Essential (Ability to assess and organise resources, and plan and progress work)
• Essential (Experience in computational analysis/coding)
• Desirable (Additional experience in computational analysis, coding or related fields)

Grade: 7

Salary: £38,784 - £41,064 per annum

Work Arrangement:
Full‑time (100% FTE)

Duration:
Fixed term from 1 June 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter, for a period of 4.5 years (54 months)

Line Manager:
Early Career Research Fellow (PI / Group Leader)

Direct Reports:
To be confirmed