Research Assistant

COLLEGE OF MEDICAL VETERINARY & LIFE SCIENCES

SCHOOL OF INFECTION AND IMMUNITY

Research and Teaching

Job Purpose

We are seeking to appoint a Research Assistant to work within the School of Infection and Immunity under the supervision of Professor Gwo-tzer Ho [Principal Investigator].

The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the formulation and submission of research publications and research proposals as well as help manage and direct this complex and challenging project as opportunities allow.

This post forms the exciting new Gut Translational Research Group led by Professor Ho in the School of Infection and Immunity. The post will focus on the role of the mucosal-associated microbiome and their interactions with the gut immune system in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. This project is part of a wider Scotland-wide IBD study (Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee), www.musicstudy.uk that investigates clinical and molecular factors of mucosal healing and wellbeing in IBD.

The project

The Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Crohn’s and Ulcerative colitis are lifelong immune-conditions that affect ~300 000 individuals in UK. The microbiome, particularly the gut bacteria play an important role here but how they shape our immune responses along the length of our gastrointestinal tract remains unknown. This project will focus on large scale analysis of microbiome datasets (16s and metagenomics) in adults and children with IBD together with mitochondrial-immunometabolic transcriptomics and genetics data to identify disease-specific mechanisms for further human experimental studies. The candidate is expected to have very strong bioinformatic skills in multi-omics platform and maintain data-analysis pipelines in addition to carry out experimental lab work. They will be expected to work in a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, scientists and coordinate a complex level of interaction between team members of the Ho-lab to deliver an integrated predictive modelling approach to IBD mucosal healing. This post will offer career development opportunities, for the postholder to work towards fellowships applications as an example.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Perform the following activities in conjunction with and under the guidance of the Principal Investigator:

1. Plan and conduct assigned research individually or jointly in accordance with the project deliverables and project/group/School/College research strategy.

2. Document research output including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, drafting technical/progress reports and papers as appropriate.

3. Develop and enhance your research profile and reputation and that of The University of Glasgow/School/Research Group, including contributing to publications of international quality in high profile/quality refereed publications, enhancing the research impact in terms of economic/societal benefit, and gathering indicators of esteem.

4. Contribute to the presentation of work at international and national conferences, at internal and external seminars, colloquia and workshops to develop and enhance our research profile.

5. Contribute to the identification of potential funding sources and to assist in the development of proposals to secure funding from internal and external bodies to support future research.

6. Collaborate with colleagues and participate in team/ group/ meetings/ seminars/ workshops across the research Group/School/College/University and wider community.

7. Contribute to the organisation, supervision, mentoring and training of undergraduate and/or postgraduate students and less experienced members of the project team to ensure their effective development.

8. Perform administrative tasks related to the activities of the research group and School, including Budgets/Expenditure.

9. Carry out modest Teaching activities (e.g. demonstrating etc) and associated admin as assigned by the Head of School and in consultation with Principal Investigator.

10. Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field/discipline.

11. Engage in continuing professional development activities as appropriate.

12. Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Head of School/Director of Research Institute.

13. Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University Strategy.

Please note that as part of your application you must address and demonstrate how you meet EACH of the essential / desirable criteria. If you do not address each criterion in the format explained above you will not be shortlisted for interview.

Knowledge /Qualifications

Essential:

A1. Normally Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 10[Honours degree or equivalent] in immunology or a cognate discipline. May be working towards a post-graduate qualification such as a Masters (Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 11) or PhD (Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 12).

A2. A comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge in precision medicine, microbiome and immunology.

Desirable:

B1. An awarded [or recently submitted or near completion] PhD in Precision Medicine or equivalent

Skills

Essential:

C1. Excellent skills in a range of microbiome technique (bacterial 16sRNA and metagenomics).

C2. Skills in handling complex microbiome and genetics human datasets.

C3. Skills in analytical approaches in Precision Medicine human IBD cohorts.

C4. Skills in coding and maintaining data analytical pipelines.

C5.  Skills in building and maintain human databases that incorporates dynamic molecular and clinical data.

C6. Research creativity and cross-discipline collaborative ability as appropriate

C7. Excellent communication skills [oral and written], including public presentations and ability to communicate complex data/concepts clearly and concisely

C8. Excellent interpersonal skills including team working and a collegiate approach

C9. Appropriate workload/time/project/budget/people management skills

C10. Extensive IT and data analysis/interpretation skills as appropriate

C11. Self-motivation, initiative and independent thought/working

C12. Problem solving skills including a flexible and pragmatic approach

Desirable:

D1. Skills in developing artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches to multi-omic datasets.

D2. Skills with microbial-immune culture experiments.

D3. Familiarity with spatial technologies such as transcriptomics and proteomics.

Experience

Essential:

E1. Sufficient depth of relevant research experience in a research laboratory or similar environment, including evidence of previous professional development.

E2. Experience in handling large human clinical and molecular datasets; and maintaining data analytical pipelines with relevant computational skills.

E3. Proficiency in molecular biology techniques such as preparation of material for transcriptional profiling e.g., qPCR, bulk RNA-seq.

E4. Proven ability to deliver quality outputs in a timely and efficient manner.

Further Information

Informal enquiries should be directed to Professor Gwo-tzer Ho via email gwo-tzer.ho@glasgow.ac.uk

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 6, £33,482 - £37,174 per annum.

This post is full time and has funding for up to 3 years from start date.

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.  If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.

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Closing Date: 14 April 2025at 23:45