Research Assistant in Biophysics

The Role

Applications are invited for a Research Assistant in Biophysics with a particular emphasis on biomolecular assay development for drug discovery. The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr Liz Morris who is an Assistant Professor in Structural Biology in the Department of Biosciences. Dr Aakash Basu, Assistant Professor in Biophysics also in the Biosciences Department, will be co-supervisor. The aim of the project is to use single-molecule microscopy and other biophysical methods to troubleshoot and optimise fluorescence-based biochemical assays that can be used for high-throughput compound screening at AstraZeneca towards the development of new cancer drugs. The project is funded by a Medical Research Council Impact Acceleration Account and will in volve working in collaboration with the assay development team at the pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca, who are based in Cambridge.

The successful applicant will be based at Durham University, working in the laboratories of Dr Liz Morris (based in the Chemistry Dept) and Dr Aakash Basu (based in Biosciences) to carry out experiments, with hands-on training and close supervision provided. You will be required to keep accurate records of your experiments and communicate your findings in regular meetings with the project partners at AstraZeneca. The role will involve visits to AstraZeneca in Cambridge at the start and end of the project. You will additionally be supported to travel to workshops or conferences relevant to the project.

Responsibilities:

• To undertake basic research using fluorescence spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy to understand the action of enzymes on nucleic acids.
• To contribute to the planning of the research project.
• To analyse the results of research work using existing data analysis methodology.
• To write reports on research progress for the research supervisors at Durham.
• To explain research progress to collaborators at AstraZeneca through presentations and discussion.
• To deal with experimental problems that arise that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines through discussion with supervisors at Durham and collaborators at AstraZeneca.
• To assist in contributing to support student projects on the use of research methods and equipment.
• To contribute to fostering a collegial and respectful working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• To engage in wider citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.
• To engage in continuing professional development by attending relevant training and development courses.

This post is fixed term for 10 months. The successful applicant will ideally be in-post between 1^st November 2024 – 31^st August 2025. The funding for the position is time-limited. However the exact start and end-dates are somewhat flexible (up to a latest end-date of 31^st January 2026).

Advert information