Graduate Research Assistant

Salary

The starting salary will be from £ 33,951 on Grade E, depending on qualifications and experience. UK home/international level PhD fees for the duration of the project are also available.

Contractual hours

36.5

Package

Generous holiday allowances, flexible working, pension scheme and relocation package (if applicable).

Job category/type

Research

Date posted

14/10/2025

Job reference

Q10072

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

The post

The Faculty wishes to recruit a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) to support the work of Dr. Yu Hsuan Carol Yang. This full-time Wellcome-funded post is available from 1st September 2026 on a fixed-term basis for four years. The successful applicant will take a leading role in projects focused on understanding how the crosstalk between the nervous system and the endocrine pancreas impacts glucose homeostasis in health and disease. The Yang lab is part of the vibrant Living Systems Institute and Exeter Centre of Excellence for Diabetes Research. The candidate will be working very closely with members of the Yang lab (including the principal investigator, postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduate students) and our collaborative partners.

The successful applicant will be investigating the dynamics of neural signalling within the endocrine pancreas, and how specific neural signalling are altered in disease settings to impact the controlled release of hormones from the endocrine pancreas. The GRA will lead on projects funded by Wellcome, conduct experiments with live zebrafish, and present findings at international conferences. Relevant skills required for completing the research projects include zebrafish handling, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, molecular biology, whole-mount staining, in vivo microscopy, 4D image analysis, FACS, and bulk and single cell RNA-sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis. The candidate will have access to a supportive environment to advance their professional development and the opportunity to learn the relevant skills to complement their current skillset in a multidisciplinary institute.

Notably, the successful candidate may have the option of enrolling as a PhD student, with the University (student tuition fees and research costs are fully funded) and we would welcome applications from candidates who are interested in undertaking a PhD thesis during the four-year period. Please see the additional personal requirements relating to this option in the job description.

About you

The successful applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies.

Applicants will be educated to first degree level or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study or equivalent experience and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes.

The successful applicants will be trained in cell biology or related discipline with experience in bioinformatics analysis and at least two of the following: zebrafish handling, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, molecular biology, confocal imaging and image analysis, flow cytometry, and/or library preparation for RNA sequencing. You will be working at our multi-disciplinary Living Systems Institute and will have access to state-of-the-art research facilities.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

What we can offer you

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
• Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development

• Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career

• A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy

• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon

The University of Exeter

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world's most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today. More than 99 percent of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).

We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community.

With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.

We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people.

Further information

For further information please contact Dr. Yu Hsuan Carol Yang, e-mail

The closing date for completed applications is 19 November 2025. Interviews are expected to take place 2-weeks following the closing date.