Postdoctoral Research Assistant

Job Title and Reporting

Job Title: Postdoctoral Research Assistant (1 FTE)
Grade of Post/Salary: Grade 7 (£30,434 - £33,242 maximum spinal point 32)
Reporting Line Manager: Dr Albena Dinkova-Kostova
Staff Supervision:
Duration of employment: 2 years

Role Purpose

To carry our research with the aim to investigate the spatiotemporal regulation of the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway.

Location

The post holder will be based within the Division of Cancer Research, School of Medicine on the Ninewells Campus of the University of Dundee.

Principal Duties
•Carry out laboratory-based research
•Carry out biochemical and statistical analyses pertinent to the project

The post holder will:

Service Delivery
•Carry out laboratory-based research to the highest standard
•Work independently, but also contribute to the work and well-being of the group
•Contribute intellectually and strategically to the development of the project
•Develop research objectives and proposals for own and/or joint research using initiative and creativity to identify new areas and novel lines of investigation for research
•Plan and manage own research activity in collaboration with others
•Work to deadlines and meet milestone targets, with detailed attention to time management and multitasking
•Continually update knowledge and understanding of the field through regular and frequent reading of the literature
•Perform experiments and make data figures that are of publication quality
•Assemble and analyse data into summary reports and manuscripts and present to colleagues
•Provide training to students and other newly appointed or junior staff in techniques and use of equipment
•Monitor the progress of the trainees

Communication

•Contribute to group meetings
•Present information and data to members of the group in a formal setting
•Communicate topical and relevant new studies and developments in the field to the group
•Participate in discussions within the group and other research groups within the University
•Coordinate and communicate with collaborators and other teams involved in the research
•Communicate with undergraduate and postgraduate students as part of their education training process

Liaison & Networking

•Coordinate and communicate with collaborators and other teams involved in the research
•Communicate and liaise independently with service users and/or external contacts through established routine connections
•Attend internal and external meetings to ensure that the work unit issues area appropriately represented and reported

Decision Making, Planning and Problem Solving

•Contribute intellectually and strategically to the development of the project
•Assume responsibility for driving and leading the project
•Participate actively in problem solving independently and as part of the team
•Plan ahead (the next set of experiments) based on the current experimental results
Team Development

•The individual will be part of a research team and will supervise other team members, such as undergraduate and postgraduate students
•The individual will participate in appraisal procedures of other (junior) team members
•The individual will have unique expertise in live cell imaging within the team and provide guidance and advice to others

Knowledge and Experience

•Scientific background in live cell imaging and quantitative microscopy techniques, such as FRAP, FRET/FLIM
•Knowledge and experience in mammalian cell culture
•Knowledge and experience with biochemical assays, molecular and cellular biology techniques
•Knowledge and experience with protein purification
•Knowledge and experience with protein-protein interactions detection and analysis
•Knowledge and experience in ectopic expression of proteins in mammalian cells
•Knowledge and experience in fluorescence microscopy
•Quantitative analytical skills
•Knowledge in statistical analysis
•Excellent written/oral presentation skills
•Excellent numeracy skills
•Routinely update knowledge with regard of the most up to date information in the field

Qualifications

Essential: PhD degree in an area of Biological Sciences; at least one first author paper in a peer-reviewed journal

Summary – Person Specification
Essential Desirable
Qualifications & Education PhD degree
at least one first author paper in a peer-reviewed journal
Experience biochemical assays
molecular and cellular biology techniques mammalian cell culture
ectopic expression of proteins
fluorescence microscopy
live cell imaging quantitative microscopy techniques, such as FRAP, FRET/FLIM
Skills quantitative analytical skills
excellent written/oral presentation skills
excellent numeracy skills
ability to work independently
creativity to design, analyse and interpret research data
ability to conceive, design and execute appropriate well-controlled experiments
Knowledge cell biology
cell signalling
quantitative microscopy
Personal Qualities ability to work well independently and within a team
excellent record keeping and time management
consideration to others and referral to the relevant people when necessary