Position Details

College of Medicine and Health

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £34,980 to £44,263 with potential progression once in post to £46,974

Grade: 7

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to February 2026

Closing date: 14th October 2024

This role is also open as an internal secondment opportunity which would need to be agreed by your current line manager.

Travel will be required for this role.

Background

You will create and contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking a specified range of activities within the newly funded research project entitled ‘Probing the interaction of liposome delivery systems with Gram negative bacterial cell envelopes: a comprehensive investigative approach’.

Research activities will be primarily carried out at the University of Birmingham within the School of Pharmacy, the School of Chemical Engineering and the COMPARE (Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors) Advanced Imaging Facility, with a distinct package of project work conducted at the Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, University of Manchester. Work conducted at the University of Manchester will necessitate a period of commuting from Birmingham to Manchester.

The project, entitled ‘Probing the interaction of liposome delivery systems with Gram negative bacterial cell envelopes: a comprehensive investigative approach’ (further information here) is funded by the Phospholipid Research Center, and aims to i) formulate a range of liposomal formulations by microfluidic mixing and ii) use a combination of biophysical and microbiological approaches to characterize liposome-bacterial cell envelope interactions. Preliminary efficacy testing of promising formulation candidates will also be carried out.

The successful candidate will drive this interdisciplinary project, supported by a 3-investigator project team with collective extensive expertise in nanoformulation, microbial biotechnology and advanced biophysical techniques. Given the highly interdisciplinary nature of the project, the candidate will receive training from the project team in techniques they do not have experience with.

Role Summary

In this role, you will:

• Work within the specified funded project, developing experimental plans and collecting research data
• Analyse and interpret research findings and results
• Produce interim and final project reports describing progress and findings to the funder
• Contribute to writing bids for generation of further funding
• Operate independently and efficiently within area of specialism
• Where appropriate, contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and/or public understanding of the discipline or similar

Main Duties

Planning and carrying out research on the funded project, including (as appropriate):

• Developing research objectives and proposals, with support from the project team as/when required
• Collecting research data through a variety of methods including scientific experimentation and literature review
• Analysing and interpreting data
• Contributing to developing new models, techniques and methods as relevant to the funded project proposal
• Dealing with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Generating progress reports by specified deadlines, for supply to the project funder
• Contributing to writing bids for research funding, including leading on writing bids for travel/conference grants
• Disseminating research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Presenting research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
• Supervising students on research related work and providing guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Providing guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
• Undertaking management/administration arising from research
• Contributing to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contributing to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision
• Applying knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Promoting equality and valuing diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Person Specification

• First degree in area of specialism and normally, a higher degree relevant to research area (usually PhD) or equivalent qualifications
• Capability to contribute to the planning and organising of the funded research project
• Ability to work independently and manage time and tasks efficiently to meet project deadlines
• High level analytical capability
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly in oral, written and visual formats
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods (such as microfluidic production of nanocarriers, use of Langmuir monolayers, bacterial cell culture and minimum inhibitory concentration testing, flow cytometry, advanced microscopy) and ability to contribute to developing new ones
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Co-ordination of own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly

Further particulars can be found here

Informal enquiries to Dr Sarah Gordon (Project Lead): s.c.gordon@bham.ac.uk

We believe there is no such thing as a ‘typical’ member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.