Research Assistant/associate

**Salary**:
Research Assistant: £32,546 - £34,132 per annum

Research Associate: £35,116 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: 19 February 2025

**The Role**

We have an exciting opportunity for a **Research Assistant/Associate** to join an Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) funded project. The project aims to develop “Precision 4D Control of Cortical Circuit Function”. The project is led by Professor Andrew Jackson at Newcastle University in collaboration with Imperial College London and Oxford University.

In this role, you will be embedded within the Biosciences Institute at Newcastle University hosting one of the UK’s largest groupings of neuroscientists, spanning the full range of approaches from molecular genetics to behaviour with a particular strength in system neuroscience.

This post-doctoral position will involve working with Dr. Fiona LeBeau and Prof. Andrew Trevelyan using rodent in vitro electrophysiological recording and stimulation techniques to better understand cortical circuit function in both health and disease. There will also be the opportunity to validate rodent findings in human brain slice recordings (with tissue obtained from patients undergoing surgical resections for tumour or epilepsy). We will use a range of techniques (optogenetics, multipolar stimulation, 3D multielectrode array recordings) with the aim to advance our understanding of the role of specific neuronal subtypes in cortical circuit interactions and function.

As this position is part of a larger multi-disciplinary research project there will also be opportunities to become involved with in vivo recordings experiments.

This post is fixed term for a period of 3 years.

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of research role profiles. These profiles set out firstly the generic competences and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and secondly the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.

Please note that if you are successful to this role, you will require medical clearance and a Research Passport before you can commence in the role

**Key Accountabilities**
- Although working under the general guidance of an academic or Principal Investigator, the postholder will contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of their studies, thus providing substantial 'added value'
- Develop and carry out the specified project using appropriate techniques and equipment as outlined in the personal requirements
- Determine appropriate methodologies for research, with advice and support where required
- Begin to write, with appropriate support, proposals for individual research funding or, where funders do not permit this, contribute to the writing of collective bids
- Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations
- Contribute to the writing up of their research for publication and dissemination, either through seminar and conference presentations or through publications
- Present research findings, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the discipline
- May be involved in the supervision, with guidance, of final year undergraduate research projects and in providing support to postgraduate research students or Research Assistants
- Will need to work with the support staff and, on occasions, with undergraduate and postgraduate students, and interact intellectually with other academic members of the Institute.
- May contribute to events celebrating the public engagement of science/social sciences/humanities
- Develop an awareness of University structures, policies and procedures and relevant issues in the higher education, research, social and political environment

**The Person (Essential)**

**Knowledge, Skills and Experience**
- Ability to work well as part of a team and rapidly acquire new skills
- Extensive experience of in vitro electrophysiology including recording extracellular spike activity, network oscillations and LTP.
- Experience in recording and analysis approaches using Spike 2, Axograph and Intan recording systems
- Hold and have experience of working with a Home Office Personal Licence (PIL) under Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA).
- Ability to communicate complex information with clarity and to encourage the commitment of others
- Evidence of good writing skills
- Experience of research with clear transferable skills and some experience or awareness of the research environment
- Presentations at conferences and/or high-quality publications
- An excellent record of academic achievement
- The ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and manage and c