Please submit the following documents as part of your application:

• A current Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• A cover letter (maximum two pages) explaining your suitability for the role.

In your cover letter, please address the following points:

• Your experience in cell biology, including mammalian cell culture and relevant laboratory techniques.
• Your experience working with primary human tissues or primary cell isolation, where applicable.
• Your experience in planning and delivering independent research projects, including examples of meeting project milestones or deadlines.
• Your motivation for applying for this position and your interest in translational research in neuromuscular diseases.
• Any additional experience relevant to the role, such as preclinical drug development, animal research, transcriptomics, bioinformatics, or collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.

Key Accountabilities 

Research Assistant

• Conduct laboratory-based translational research using primary human muscle cells, including the isolation, culture and characterisation of fibro-adipogenic progenitor (FAP) cells and other muscle-derived cell populations.
• Perform advanced cell biology and pharmacological experiments to evaluate the efficacy and safety of novel therapeutic compounds using human cellular models of muscular dystrophy.
• Contribute to the planning, execution and analysis of preclinical studies in murine models of muscular dystrophy, ensuring compliance with all relevant ethical, regulatory and health and safety requirements.
• Manage experimental workflows, maintain accurate laboratory records, and ensure the timely delivery of project milestones in collaboration with the Principal Investigator and project partners.
• Work collaboratively with academic and industrial collaborators, contributing to regular project meetings and the communication of scientific progress.
• Collect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes.
• Co-ordinate own work with that of others, use problem solving to affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project(s).
• Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project.
• Write up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project’s dissemination, in whatever form (report, papers, chapters, books).
• Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate.

In addition, for Research Associate

• Contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of the project.
• Determine appropriate methodologies for research.
• Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations.
• Contribute to the writing up of the research and its 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.
• Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and develop own research objectives and proposals for funding.