Research Associate/Fellow in Molecular Evolution (Fixed term)

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Life Sciences
Location:  University Park
Salary:  £30,487 to £45,585 per annum (pro rata if applicable) depending on skills and experience (minimum £33966 with relevant PhD). Salary progression beyond this scale is subject to performance.
Closing Date:  Thursday 25 January 2024
Reference:  MED609223

We are looking for an enthusiastic Research Associate/Fellow to work on our Wellcome Trust funded grant to understand the how heat stress associated with climate change can affect off-spring health. Understanding the biological basis of effects on the health of offspring born to mothers that experience extremes of heat and figuring out how we can mitigate these challenges are critical to ensure healthy babies. The fellow will work as part of an ongoing collaboration between Prof Niamh Forde’s group at University of Leeds and Prof O’Connell’s group at the University of Nottingham and will be based in the O’Connell group at the University of Nottingham. The project is funded under a Wellcome Trust award, and the post is of 3 years in duration. We are using an interdisciplinary approach combining novel in vitro 3D approaches to mimic maternal and embryo interactions as well as comparative approaches to determine how acute heat stress alters life-course health in offspring. 

The purpose of this role will be to have specific responsibility for research, for developing research objectives and proposals for this comparative genomics research project on the genomics of heat stress response and adaptation in mammals. The person appointed will be expected to plan and conduct work using approaches or methodologies and techniques appropriate to the type of research, and they will be responsible for writing up their work for publication.

 The person appointed will have the opportunity to use their initiative and creativity to identify areas for research, develop research methods and extend their research portfolio.

 As Research Associate/Fellow your main duties will include (not a definitive list): 

• Working with and in support of Prof Mary O’Connell’s and Prof Niamh Forde’s research grant to ensure the project is successfully completed; 
• Generating and pursuing original research ideas in the appropriate subject area; 
• Developing research objectives and proposals and contributing to setting the direction of the research project and team including, where appropriate preparing proposals for funding in collaboration with colleagues;  
• Evaluating methods and techniques used and results obtained by other researchers and to relate such evaluations appropriately to your own work; 
• Communicating or presenting research results through publication or other recognised forms of output;  
• Preparing papers for publication in leading international journals and independently writing reports; 
• Working both independently and also as part of a larger team of researchers, engaging in knowledge-transfer activities where appropriate and feasible; 
• Maintaining your own continuing professional development and acting as a mentor to less experienced colleagues as appropriate; 
• Contributing to the research culture of the School, where appropriate 
• Contributing to the training of both undergraduate and postgraduate students, where appropriate, including assisting with the supervision of projects in areas relevant to the project.  

This post is available on a fixed term basis until 28/02/2027. Hours of work are full time (36.25 hours). Job share arrangements may be considered.

Requests for secondment from internal candidates may be considered on the basis that prior agreement has been sought from both your current line manager and the manager of your substantive post, if you are already undertaking a secondment role.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Professor Mary J O’Connell, email mary.o’[email protected]. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

Further details:

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