Job Description
Job Title: Research Associate in molecular, digital and computational pathology
Posting Start Date: 01/07/2025
Job Id: 1238
School/Department: School of Clinical Dentistry
Work Arrangement: Full Time (On site)
Contract Type: Fixed-term
Salary per annum (£): £38,249 - £46,735
Closing Date: 10/08/2025
The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.
We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

OVERVIEW

We are seeking a talented and motivated Research Associate to join the NEOPATH research group within the Faculty of Health, University of Sheffield. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of molecular biology, computational science, and translational oncology, contributing to cutting edge research in the pathology of head and neck cancers.
Led by Professor Ali Khurram, this multidisciplinary project focuses on understanding the tumour microenvironment and disease progression by integrating digital histology, radiology, immunohistochemistry, multiplex imaging, and spatial transcriptomics with advanced bioinformatics and AIdriven analysis.
You will work alongside molecular biologists, pathologists, and data scientists to generate and analyse multimodal datasets that uncover new prognostic biomarkers and inform precision therapies. The role involves both wet-lab experimentation and computational modelling, offering a unique opportunity for someone with a background in molecular or cell biology who is also skilled in bioinformatics, image analysis, and machine learning.
You’ll be part of a dynamic, supportive, and forward-thinking research environment committed to making real clinical impact through innovation in cancer diagnostics and personalised medicine.

• Conduct research aligned with the project’s objectives, contributing to both molecular and cell biology experiments and computational/bioinformatics analyses.
• Generate, process, and analyse multimodal datasets including immunohistochemistry, multiplex imaging, and spatial transcriptomics, integrating findings from laboratory work with computational outputs.
• Manage and maintain laboratory equipment, digital pathology tools, software environments, and data systems essential for experimental and computational workflows.
• Work both independently and collaboratively as part of the NEOPATH research group, engaging with co-investigators to meet project milestones and contribute to overall planning and delivery.
• Maintain accurate and detailed records of all research activity, including wet-lab protocols, data acquisition processes, and bioinformatics pipelines.
• Adhere to Health & Safety policies, including CoSHH regulations and SOPs.
• Liaise regularly with the principal investigator and project supervisors, contributing to team meetings and strategic discussions.
• Prepare and deliver presentations for internal meetings, collaborators, and external audiences such as conferences.
• Undertake literature reviews to ensure the project is informed by the latest developments.
• Contribute to manuscript preparation, technical reports, and funding applications.
• Support responsible research conduct and sustainability practices.
• Carry out other duties as required, commensurate with the scope and grade of the post.