Application closing date 20/04/2020  
Salary £33,797 per annum.  
Job category/type Research
Attachments      

Job description

We are recruiting for an experienced and highly motivate Research Fellow in Toxin Detection Systems to be an active member of the research team assisting in the planning and delivery of research led by Prof Katrina Campbell at the Institute for Global Food Security. The successful candidate will work on a BBSRC research project entitled "A Scalable Bio-based Solution to Eliminate Cyanotoxins in Drinking Water". This project will seek to develop novel diagnostic solutions for determining chemical contaminants such as cyanotoxins (blue-green algal toxins) in food and water.

The Research Fellow will undertake research to develop and validate immunological methods of analysis for natural toxins e.g. ELISA, LFDs and microarrays for toxin testing in seafood products and water samples and undertake research to design innovative microfluidics and sample preparation methods for simultaneous multiple contaminant analysis.

The successful candidate must have: 

• Have or be about to obtain a PhD in biochemistry, chemistry, immunology, molecular biology or analytical science or related discipline
• 3 years recent relevant practical experience in standard  immunological methods e.g. ELISA, LFD, microarrays or biosensors
• Practical experience of cell culture techniques and protein purification
• Practical experience of sample preparation methods for food analysis e.g. extraction of low molecular chemicals and/or toxins

This post is available until 31 December 2021. 

Queen's University Belfast is a driver of innovation and talent based on excellence. Throughout the University, our academics collaborate across disciplines and with outside agencies and institutions on projects of world significance. We are connected and networked with strategic partnerships across the world, helping us to expand our impact on wider society locally, nationally and globally. The University is committed to attracting, retaining and developing the best global talent within an environment that enables them to realise their full potential.

We are a leader in gender equality and diversity, and are one of the UK's most successful universities in the Athena SWAN initiative which promotes gender equality and career progression.  The University holds an Athena SWAN sliver award and the School of Biological Sciences holds an Athena SWAN Gold Award in recognition of our work to support women in Science commitment and success in addressing gender equality, representation, progression and success for all our staff.

We are ranked 1st in the UK for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, (Innovate UK) 9th in the UK for University facilities (Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2018) and 14th in the UK for research quality (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019).

Based in Belfast, a modern capital city, our beautiful campus is surrounded by abundant acres of parkland and is renowned as one of the safest and affordable cities in the UK. The choice of local Schools from pre-nursery upwards are some of the best available and we are immensely proud of what our city and our University will offer you.

The School of Biological Sciences is part of the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences.  It is made up of three research disciplines: Ecosystems Biology & Sustainability, Food Safety & Nutrition, and Microbes & Pathogen Biology.  

The School aims to enhance the way we use technology in research, food security, microbiology, ecosystem biology, sustainability and many other related areas. The School provides research programmes in areas spanning from basic biochemistry with applications in e.g. cancer research, all the way to the economic evaluation of ecosystem services and the retailing of food. We host a cutting edge scientific research team and contribute to genuine new discoveries and the development of new methods of practical use.  Many staff within the School are also members of the Institute for Global Food Security GRI: the Institute is ranked No 1 in the UK for research intensity in Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Sciences (REF 2014).  

The Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS) is one of four Global Research Institutes at Queen's and was established to address a key, international challenge, the future of the world's food systems.  Food and drink have become a global industry with many positive aspects - access, affordability, variety. Yet that industry is also faced with a number of conundrums:

• Soon there may not be enough food to feed a growing population
• The integrity of increasingly complex food supply chains is often compromised
• Deliberate food fraud is a growing crime
• Climate change throws up complications for the future of agriculture

For full job details and essential/desirable criteria please refer to the candidate information link on our website by clicking apply.  You must clearly demonstrate how you meet the criteria when you submit your application. For further information or assistance contact Resourcing Team, Queen's University Belfast, BT7 1NN.  Telephone (028) 9097 3044 or email on resourcing@qub.ac.uk

The University is committed to equality of opportunity and to selection on merit.  We welcome applications from all sections of society and particularly from people with a disability.  

Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but, in particular circumstances, may be renewed or made permanent, subject to availability of funding.  

Informal enquiries may be directed to Dr Michael Dillon via email M.Dillon@qub.ac.uk

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