Research Fellow (Biology)

Advert

Research Fellow (Biology)
School of Biosciences

The Medicines Discovery Institute represents a major investment in translational science by Cardiff University. The goal of the Institute is to translate world-leading research on scientific understanding of disease mechanisms into innovative therapeutic approaches. Our vision is to play a leading role in discovering new medicines in areas of high unmet need, with a particular emphasis on neuroscience, mental health, and cancer. We are creating a vibrant community of researchers across both academic and biotech sectors engaged in major research programmes which build off the unique strengths of Cardiff University and work collaboratively with other universities and companies across Wales and internationally.

The Medicines Discovery Institute are looking to attract an experienced Cancer Cell Biologist to support the preclinical development of a novel PROTAC drug. The project is funded by the MRC and is full-time for 22 months. The successful candidate will have experience with handling proteomic and transcriptomic data, and working with patient-derived primary cell materials.

The role holder and the project leader will coordinate internal and external outsourced activities to ensure that the project delivers its pre-agreed milestones. The role holder will coordinate outsourced activities, including managing contract biology support activities. The holder will be vital in shaping and driving the project and securing follow on external grants and commercial investment.

In addition to the funded preclinical work, the holder will use their experience to support new oncology grant funding applications. With knowledge and experience in the principles of target identification and target validation, the role holder will design and deliver experiments that will generate the data packages that are critical in supporting the early-stage drug discovery grant applications that underpin the long-term sustainability of the institute.

The post will be based at Cardiff University and will be part of a multi-disciplinary drug discovery team. For informal inquiries, please contact [email protected] .

This position is full-time (35 hours per week), available from 1st January 2024 and fixed term until 31st October 2025. 

Secondment opportunity welcome - please note for Cardiff University members of staff interested in this post on a secondment basis, permission will need to be sought from your current Line Manager before applying.

Salary: £49,794 - £54,395 per annum (Grade 7).

Date advert posted: 21 February 2024

Closing date: 29 February 2024

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.  We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age.  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:  Responsible research assessment - Research - Cardiff University

Job Description

Main purpose of role 

The role holder will coordinate internal and external outsourced activities to ensure that the project delivers its pre-agreed milestones. The role holder will coordinate outsourced activities, including managing contract biology support activities. The holder will be vital in shaping and driving the project and securing follow on external grants and commercial investment.

We anticipate that this role will grow into a wider, more strategic role as the lead biologist for a portfolio of early oncology drug discovery projects at the MDI, and we intend to secure funding for that post during this grant. That role will require knowledge and experience in the principles of target identification and target validation.

The post will be based at Cardiff University and will be part of a multi-disciplinary drug discovery team. For informal inquiries, please contact [email protected]

Research

• Independently co-ordinate all the internal and external contract researcher activities to deliver on the grant-funded PROTAC development project.
• Line manage technical staff employed on the grant
• Personally conduct cellular proliferation screens, drug synergy combination studies, and evaluate proteomic and transcriptomic data.
• To plan and implement an overall project strategy using internal and external resources to achieve the project milestones.
• Work closely with clinical colleagues to deliver a quality data set for onward investment opportunities.
• Develop research networks through regular national/international conference/seminar presentations in order to, for example, identify sources of funding, secure student placements, and build relationships for future activities.
• Generate and pursue independent and original research ideas in the field of cancer research and support the initiation of new lines of research in related areas
• To disseminate research findings using appropriate and effective national and international publications, research seminars, meetings and conferences
• 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
• To supervise and develop other research staff within own research projects
• To provide guidance students in own specialist area, including supervising and assessing undergraduate projects
• To participate in School research activities.

• 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 participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world.

Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.

Person Specification

IMPORTANT NOTE TO CANDIDATES: It is the University’s policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing and we only invite candidates to interview who clearly evidence that they meet (or partially meet) each of the essential criteria. During the application process you will be asked to attach a supporting statement. This statement must outline how you meet the criteria below and we recommended formatting this by using each criteria as a sub-heading and providing your relevant experience/evidence below each sub-heading. It is crucial that you save your supporting statement with the vacancy number (eg. 1234BR) in the filename as failure to do so may result in it being omitted from your application.

Essential criteria 

Qualifications and Education

Job Category

Academic - Research