Research Assistant / Research Associate in Synth Organic Chemistry

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Research Assistant (Grade 5) / Research Associate (Grade 6) in Synthetic Organic Chemistry
Cardiff School of Chemistry

We seek to recruit an enthusiastic, highly motivated scientist with proven intellectual and technical abilities to work on a synthetic organic chemistry project. The 4 month project, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Council (BBSRC), involves a collaboration between Professors Rudolf Allemann and John Pickett FRS, and Dr David Miller in the School of Chemistry.

The work will involve working closely with Dr Luke Johnson to maximise a chemoenzymatic production system, using a synthetic and modified terpene synthase, for germacrene D (GD) and a dimethylgermacrene D (DMGD), involving collaborators for large scale testing of GD and DMGD in commercial field trials on lettuce in Spain.

Please clearly state in your application which role you are applying for i.e., Grade 5 Research Assistant or Grade 6 Research Associate

Further information is available at the following group webpage:

Professor Rudolf Allemann: http://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/allemann/ and Professor John Pickett FRS: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/people/view/521655-pickett-john and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_A._Pickett

For informal enquiries about the role and the School of Chemistry, please contact Professor Rudolf Allemann, e-mail: [email protected] and Professor John Pickett FRS, email: [email protected]

For further details about working at Cardiff University, please contact: Caroline Pasmore ([email protected] )

This position is full time (35 hours per week) and is available from 1 January 2022 for 4 months.

The appointments will be made, dependent on relevant qualifications and experience, within the Grades 5 or Grade 6 salary scale:

Salary:
£27,924 - £32,344 per annum (Grade 5 - Research Assistant) or
£34,304 - £40,927 per annum (Grade 6 - Research Associate).  It is not anticipated that an appointment will be made above £34,304 per annum.

Important note: It is the University’s policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing. Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable. As part of the application process you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement.  Please ensure that the evidence you are providing corresponds with the numbered criteria outlined below. Your application will be considered based on the information you provide under each element.

When attaching the supporting statement to your application profile, please ensure that you name it with the vacancy reference number, e.g. Supporting Statement for 13321BR.

Date advert posted: Thursday, 6 January 2022

Closing date: Thursday, 3 February 2022 

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

“Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/research/our-research-environment/integrity-and-ethics/responsible-research-assessment”

Job Description

Main Function 

Grade 5

To contribute to research on novel synthetic organic chemistry products acting against aphid pest species, carrying out supporting work that helps lead to the publishing of high-quality research. To pursue excellence in research and to inspire others to do the same.

Grade 6

To conduct research within the area of novel synthetic organic chemistry products acting against aphid pest species and contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University, carrying out research leading to the publishing of high-quality research. To pursue excellence in research and to inspire others to do the same.

Grade 5
Main Duties

• To undertake research, e.g., by planning, preparing, setting up, conducting and recording the outcome of experiments /field work/desktop research/questionnaires (delete as appropriate).
• Actively participate within the research group, communicating and presenting research at meetings, through publications and other recognised avenues as appropriate, ensuring information is communicated to internal and external partners.
• To contribute and support research publications and presentations as required.
• To contribute and support research funding bids as required.
• To analyse and communicate complex ideas, concepts and data using appropriate methods and packages.
• To resolve issues and support colleagues in devising procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
• To generate research output and contribute to the development of independent and original ideas as appropriate.
• To provide support in research activities for undergraduate courses and research programmes and provide guidance to other members of staff within the research team.
• To maintain and update area of specialist knowledge, researching and critically appraising relevant literature within the area.

Other

• To participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world.
• To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.
• To ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties.
• To abide by the University policies on Health and Safety and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion.
• Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.

Grade 6
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Research

• To conduct research on the novel synthetic organic chemistry products acting against aphid pest species and contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University by the production of measurable outputs including bidding for funding, publishing in national academic journals and conferences, and the recruitment and supervision of postgraduate research students.
• To develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research including research funding proposals.
• To attend and or present at conferences/ seminars at a local and national level as required.
• To undertake administrative tasks associated with the research project, including the planning and organisation of the project and the implementation of procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
• To prepare research ethics and research governance applications as appropriate.
• To review and synthesise existing research literature within the field.
• To participate in School research activities.
• To build and create networks both internally and externally to the university, to influence decisions, explore future research requirements, and share research ideas for the benefit of research projects.

Other duties are continued in Additional Information

Person Specification

Grade 5 - Research Assistant - Essential criteria

Qualifications and Education

A degree in Chemistry or a related area, or equivalent experience

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Knowledge of research methods and techniques within:

• Chemical ecology
• Biotechnological production of organic compounds
• Studies on biologically active compounds potentially of value in agriculture or horticulture

Proven ability to analyse complex information and summarise appropriately

Ability to demonstrate the capability and drive to succeed in securing research funding

Communication and Team Working

Proven communication skills, including presentation to various audiences

Excellent organisational and team-working skills

Other

Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and teamworking within work

Ability to co-supervise graduate/ undergraduate research students

Desirable Criteria 

Postgraduate degree at PhD level in chemical ecology, or a related subject area, or relevant industrial experience

Track record in use and development of techniques to measure pest-control activity of novel synthetic organic compounds related by synthetic biological production to biologically active natural products

Experience with a range of characterisation techniques including Gas Chromatography (GC), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Mass Spectrometry (MS)

Proven ability to adapt to the changing requirements of the Higher Education community

Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team

Evidence of ability to participate in and develop both internal and external networks and utilise them to enhance the research activities of the School

A willingness to take responsibility for academically related administration

Fluency in Welsh, written and oral

Grade 6 - Research Associate - Essential criteria

Qualifications and Education

Postgraduate degree at PhD level (or nearing completion/ submission) in synthetic organic chemistry or a related subject area, or relevant industrial experience

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

An established expertise and proven portfolio of research or relevant industrial experience within the following research fields:

• Chemical Ecology
• Biotechnological production of organic compounds
• Studies on biologically active compounds potentially of value in agriculture or horticulture

Knowledge of current status of research in one or more areas of surface spectroscopy and microscopy

Proven ability to publish in international journals and at national and/or international conferences

Knowledge and understanding of competitive research funding to be able to develop applications to funding bodies

Communication and Team Working

Proven ability in effective and persuasive communication of scientific results

Ability to supervise the work of others in a laboratory setting, in order to focus team efforts and motivate individuals

Other

Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and team-working within work

Proven ability to work without close supervision and supervision of undergraduate (project) students.

Desirable Criteria 

Experience with a range of characterisation techniques including Gas Chromatography (GC), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Mass Spectrometry (MS)

Proven ability to adapt to the changing requirements of the Higher Education community

Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team

Evidence of ability to participate in and develop both internal and external networks and utilise them to enhance the research activities of the School

A willingness to take responsibility for academically related administration

Fluency in Welsh, written and oral

Additional Information

Job description Grade 6 continued:

Other

• To engage effectively with industrial, commercial and public sector organisations, professional institutions, other academic institutions etc., regionally and nationally to raise awareness of the School’s profile, to cultivate strategically valuable alliances, and to pursue opportunities for collaboration across a range of activities. These activities are expected to contribute to the School and the enhancement of its regional and national profile.
• To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.
• To participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world.
• To abide by the University policies on Health and Safety and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion.
• Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role

Project Description

Due to pressure on available farmland there is an urgent need for sustainably enhancing food crop production. One approach to combat insect pests it to repel or attract them, using (semio)chemical signal baited traps, keeping them away from high value crops.

We have produced modified aphid repellent and attractant semiochemicals through a strategic chemical process using enzymes. A novel and highly attractive aphid semiochemical, a dimethylgermacrene D (DMGD) has shown high field attraction to a range of pest aphids and has been demonstrated in field simulating studies as offering pest aphid control by the push-pull approach with the push against plant colonisation provided by the natural repellent, germacrene D (GD), in the isoprenoid group of natural products and the pull by the related DMGD. Opportunities for commercial scale up have been identified and can now underpin field trials for aphid control and commercial testing specifically against the lettuce aphid in the high value field production of lettuce. This new position will effect the exciting task of producing the novel organic compounds described above.

Job Category

Academic - Research