Senior Research Assistant in Molecular Microbiology

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a highly committed, motivated and creative scientist to deliver a highly innovative research project entitled "A testable hypothesis for lipoprotein-driven bacterial outer membrane evolution”. The project is funded by a BBSRC Pioneer Award, a new scheme which supports original, early-stage research with the potential to transform our fundamental understanding of biological systems. This project will exploit different strategies for enhancing and monitoring lipoprotein secretion by Geobacillus stearothermophilus. The consequences of lipoprotein hyper-secretion will be investigated to determine the extent to which cell surface-reassociation of lipoproteins may direct the formation of a ‘proto-outer membrane’. This will provide proof-of-concept data to support a significant new hypothesis to describe the mechanism of outer membrane evolution, a fundamentally important step in bacterial evolution and diversification.

For further detail see the job description.

The post is a fixed term for 12 months.

ABOUT THE TEAM

This research project is being delivered within the excellent facilities of the Exploring and Exploiting Microbial Diversity research group of the Department of Applied Sciences (https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/academic-departments/applied-sciences/research/), a biomedical research environment that was recently rated 4* (“world leading”) as part of the Unit of Assessment 3 submission to the REF2021 Research Excellence Framework. The project will be supervised by the Principal Investigator, Professor Iain Sutcliffe, and Co-Investigator, Dr Paul James.

ABOUT YOU

Applicants should hold (or be about to obtain) a PhD in molecular microbiology, biochemistry or a related subject and have demonstrable specialist expert knowledge in bacterial cell biology and the genetic manipulation of bacteria. Expertise in protein biochemistry and/or transmission electron microscopy is also desirable. You should be able to work independently and as part of a team. Excellent communication (written and oral), multi-tasking abilities and organisation skills are required. 

Further information about the requirements of the role is available in the person specification.

If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Professor Iain Sutcliffe (iain.sutcliffe@northumbria.ac.uk).

To apply for this vacancy please click 'Apply Now'. Your application should include a covering letter including a narrative summary of your research experience (2 pages maximum) and a CV.

ABOUT US

At Northumbria, we embrace tomorrow. We pursue new thinking, forge new partnerships, create, and exchange new knowledge, and find new solutions. Our inspirational academics, partners and students work together to tackle tomorrow’s challenges head on. We are ready for the future whatever it may hold. 

Awarded the title of University of the Year in the 2022 Times Higher Education Awards, Northumbria University is a research-intensive modern university with a global reputation for academic excellence. 

Northumbria recorded the biggest rise of any UK university for research power in the Research Excellence Framework for the second time in 2021 and is now ranked top 25 for this measure. 

One of the largest universities in the UK with over 37,000 students from 137 countries, filled with world-leading research, award-winning partnerships, and students at the heart of an outstanding experience, Northumbria is a new kind of excellent university.  Discover more about us.  

Northumbria University is a great place to work.  We empower our exceptional people to achieve shared ambitions and promote a positive work life balance.  To say thank you, we offer a wide range of benefits including excellent pension schemes, flexible working, a generous holiday entitlement, continued commitment to your learning and development and more. 

Our Northumbria Values are guiding principles that define who we are, what we do and what is important to us. Our Values are: Academic Excellence; Innovation; Inclusivity; Collaboration; and Ambition.

Our Behaviours describe how we do things and how we work together at Northumbria, reflecting our culture and our decision-making. Our Behaviours are: We listen and learn, we support one another to success, we respect everyone and their contributions, we trust in ourselves and each other and we are bold.

Our Behaviours were co-created by colleagues from a range of roles across the University, who worked collaboratively to consider what it feels like to work for Northumbria, and where we need to continue to transform together to achieve what’s important to us. 

Please visit Our Values and Behaviours page to find out more.

We are an on-campus organisation where colleagues work regular patterns of hours and on campus, with some flexibility on the timing of their hours and the location of their work in discussion with their manager. 

Northumbria University is committed to creating an inclusive culture where we take pride in, and value, the diversity of our staff.  We encourage and welcome applications from all members of the community.  The University holds a bronze Athena Swan award in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality, we are a Disability Confident Employer, a member of the Race Equality Charter and are participating in the Stonewall Diversity Champion Programme.  We also hold the HR Excellence in Research award for implementing the concordat supporting the career Development of Researchers and are members of the Euraxess initiative to deliver information and support to professional researchers.  

The University has implemented a range of flexible working arrangements, and we are happy to explore candidate requirements as part of the recruitment process.