Lecturer in Mitochondrial Drug Discovery

**Salary**: £33,966 to £44,263 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

**Closing Date**: 22 August 2023

The Role

You will develop and expand the key research area of drug discovery bioscience as applied to mitochondrial disease. You will hold a PhD in a relevant aspect of mitochondrial biology and have undertaken significant previous training in contemporary drug discovery bioscience, gained in academia, biotech and/or a large pharmaceutical company, with experience of working across multiple therapeutic projects. You will have prior experience of managing projects involving commercial partners. You will be able to demonstrate interactions with key stakeholders in the drug development process, from basic scientists to clinicians and mitochondrial disease patients. You will be technically proficient in the use and development of current molecular and cellular technologies relevant to target validation and the demonstration of drug action in cells, with a clear track record in assay development.

Newcastle University is a world-class research-intensive university that aims to provide an outstanding educational experience to its students. In addition to delivering an active programme of research, you will also contribute to the planning and delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and supervision.

Key Accountabilities
- To identify and/or evaluate new small molecule therapeutics and lead related research in mitochondrial drug discovery bioscience, working closely with bioscientists, clinicians and medicinal chemists in-house and externally (with collaborators).
- To champion new strategies and experimental technologies relevant to mitochondrial drug discovery.
- To work independently and to lead a group focused on developing mitochondrial therapeutics and publishing in internationally-recognised journals, to bid for research grants from prestigious funders (research council and commercial), and participate in dissemination activities.
- To create and maintain strong collaborative links with other researchers based in the Institute, Faculty and University, and external partners working in the relevant field of research, and to develop collaborative links with international colleagues working in this area.
- Promote a research culture that encourages and celebrates a rich diversity in its workforce and that upholds the highest standards for its research integrity, data reproducibility and collaborative spirit.
- To lead and contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and assessments; supervise undergraduate and Masters dissertations and postgraduate research students in research projects in mitochondrial therapeutics and related areas.
- To carry out management and administrative duties as deemed necessary, including participation in relevant School and Faculty committees and activities as required by your line manager and the Institute Dean.
- To act as a personal tutor to a group of students, concerned with students’ academic achievements, and pastoral care.

Person Specification (Essential)

Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Knowledge
- Expert knowledge of contemporary mitochondrial biology and therapeutics for mitochondrial disease
- Strong background of small molecule drug discovery methods
- Expertise in a range of target identification and therapeutic efficacy assessment techniques
- Expert knowledge of developing and implementing novel high throughput techniques to identify therapeutics in the mitochondrial field

**Skills**:

- Proven ability to successfully run a group focused on mitochondrial therapeutics
- Excellence in the ability to carry out and deliver high quality research within agreed timelines and meeting project milestones
- Excellent communication skills both verbal and written: the ability to communicate complex information clearly (including presentations to academic/non-academic audiences, written outputs)
- Ability to undertake independent research and to work as part of a multidisciplinary research team to successfully deliver research projects
- Ability and expertise to contribute to, the delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes in pharmacology or translational medicine within the Institute and Faculty of Medical Sciences.
- Excellent organisational, administrative, and planning skills
- Ability to supervise student research projects at undergraduate and Masters level, and PhD/MD supervision
- Proven project management skills

Experience
- Experience of leading mitochondrial therapeutic development activities and problem solving within multi-disciplinary drug discovery teams in academia, biotech and/or large pharma
- A demonstrated ability of assessing small molecules for mitochondrial therapeutic development
- Evidence of identifying and