Research Fellow

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to March 2028

Background

To create and contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking a specified range of activities within an established research programme and/or specific research project.

Specifically, an MRC funded Career Development Award that is studying the mechanisms driving immune suppression after traumatic injury. The post will involve the performance of rodent models of traumatic brain injury and the ex vivo analysis of immune cells isolated from human trauma patients.

Main Duties

• Performance of animal models of traumatic injury, specifically a model of isolated moderate traumatic brain injury in rodents.
• Ex vivo analysis of immune cells acquired from major trauma patients and patients undergoing elective surgery.
• Analyse and interpret data.
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding.
• Disseminate research findings in the form of publications and at research seminars.
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline.
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods. 
• Undertake management/administration arising from research.
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration.
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader.
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation and literature reviews.
• Present research outputs, by drafting academic publications or parts thereof, and attending seminars for oral/poster presentations.
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research.
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines.

Person Specification

• First degree in area of specialism (life sciences) and a PhD (or near to completion) relevant to research area (immunology).
• The candidate must hold a Home office Personal Licence training (PIL AB & C) or equivalent qualification.
• The candidate must have extensive experience with in vivo rodent models rodent in vivo experimentation.
• High level of analytical capability, especially in the understanding and analysis of transcriptomic data and DNA methylation data.
• Experience in immune cell isolation, cell culture, metabolic assays, ELISA’s, RNA and DNA isolation, Western blotting and flow cytometry is essential.
• Experience of working with animal models; this post will require the post holder to perform a rodent model of moderate traumatic brain injury.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly.
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones. Broadly speaking, this will encompass flow cytometry-based methods, metabolic assays, analysis and interpretation of RNA sequencing data and DNA methylation data, and the performance of animal models of traumatic brain injury. 
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively. 

Informal enquiries to Lisa Powell, email: l.h.powell@bham.ac.uk 

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the Apply button.

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