Job description
We are seeking motivated, collaborative and self-starting individual with experience in experimental research aligned to the pharmaceutical development of medicines. The role will be to support the development of a novel medical device for the treatment of fungal infection in the human nail. The project is entitled ‘Engineering Personalised Cutaneous Hypobaric Microchambers to Facilitate the Treatment of Local Infectious Diseases with Gaseous Signalling Molecules’, funded by the EPSRC and more details can be found here:
 
https://gow.epsrc.ukri.org/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/V009567/1  
 
The post will be in Dr Stuart Jones’s lab that is focused on understanding how molecules cross biological barriers with a special emphasis on the skin and the nail. Dr Jones and his team use new discoveries in barrier transport mechanisms to design new diagnostic and drug administration systems. To date this work has been funded by 18 research grants with a total value of > £3million.
 
The Jones lab is within the Institute of Pharmaceutical Science (IPS), which is concerned with gaining a detailed understanding of the human pathological state and employing this knowledge to discover, design, develop and deliver drugs to the patient with a view to managing disease.  It provides the multidisciplinary approach required to contribute to the overall development of pharmacologically active compounds from their earliest stages of conception at the bench through their presentation as medicines, to the analysis of their use within the community.   IPS is one of the largest divisions in the health schools and is currently organised in five groups: Pharmaceutical Biophysics, Chemical Biology, Drug Delivery, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Clinical Practice and Medication Use.  There is a vibrant PhD programme with more than 100 students, and a comprehensive suite of postgraduate taught programmes.
 
This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract for24 months
This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent

Key responsibilities
 
•         Research: To conduct laboratory experiments, record results, interpret data and report the results. To use research skills to gather information from the scientific literature and use this information to construct and develop laboratory experiments.
•         Administration: To manage the project budget, timelines and paperwork. To represent the Research Group as required at scientific meetings. To provide training and manage junior members of the research team.
•         Communication & networking: Communicate internally and externally, using well- honed written and oral skills in a clear and accurate manner to a range of audiences. Have a high level of interpersonal communication. Interact with other members of the research team in an effective manner.
The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience
 
Essential criteria 
 

•  PhD is essential in the relevant field
• First degree in a relevant discipline
•  A sound (theoretical and practical) knowledge of an area of pharmaceutical science
•  Evidence of strong laboratory skills
• Evidence of good organisational and administrative skills
• Good communication skills
• Experience of scientific report writing and data presentation
• Self-motivated, pro-active and innovative

Desirable criteria 
 
•         Skills in handling biological samples
 
*Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.
 
Further information
The interviews will be held on Tuesday 9th March 2021