College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences

School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health

Research Associate

Vacancy Ref: 183493

Salary: Grade 7, £41,064- £46,049 per annum

We have an exciting research opportunity for a Research Associate to make a leading contribution to the project ‘Regulation of Ca(v)1.2 in cardiac health and disease’ working with Professors Fuller, Myles, and Smith, as well as national and international collaborators. This British Heart Foundation-funded project, based in the Fuller Lab, will develop parallel, novel strategies targeting Ca(v)1.2 for translation into new therapeutic approaches to ameliorate contractile dysfunction and arrhythmias in heart failure.

The successful candidate will join an ongoing research program to provide cardiac and animal physiology expertise to the research team. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the formulation and submission of research reports, publications, and research proposals, as well as help manage and direct this complex and challenging project as opportunities allow.

Candidates should have specialist theoretical and practical knowledge of cell physiology, cardiac physiology (in vivo and ex vivo), related techniques, and data analysis; a comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of heart failure research and contemporary cardiac and cell physiology research methods; and knowledge of calcium transporters and calcium handling pathways in cardiac ventricular muscle.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Professor William Fuller, Will.Fuller@glasgow.ac.uk

For further information on the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health, please visit https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/cardiovascularmetabolic/  

This post is full time (35 hours per week), and open ended with funding available up to 5th January 2030. 

Job Purpose

To make a leading contribution to the project ‘Regulation of Ca(v)1.2 in cardiac health and disease’ working with Professors Fuller, Myles, and Smith, as well as national and international collaborators. This British Heart Foundation-funded project, based in the Fuller Lab, will develop parallel, novel strategies targeting Ca(v)1.2 for translation into new therapeutic approaches to ameliorate contractile dysfunction and arrhythmias in heart failure. The successful candidate will join an ongoing research program to provide cardiac and animal physiology expertise to the research team. The successful candidate(s) will also be expected to contribute to the formulation and submission of research reports, publications, and research proposals, as well as help manage and direct this complex and challenging project as opportunities allow.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Support research within the group to further our understanding of how Ca(v)1.2 can be targeted to treat heart failure.

2. Perform laboratory experiments using appropriate physiological, pharmacological, and genetic methodologies and interpret the results.

3. Document research output, including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, and drafting regular progress reports for funders.

4. Be responsible for safety management related to the organisation and running of laboratory and/or experimental techniques, equipment, and processes as appropriate.

5. Develop and enhance your research profile and reputation and that of the University of Glasgow / School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health / Fuller group, including contributing to publications of international quality in high profile/quality refereed journals, enhancing the research impact in terms of economic/societal benefit, and gathering indicators of esteem.

6. Develop personal skills, training, and experience for career advancement.

7. Survey the research literature and environment, understand the research challenges associated with the project and subject area, and develop/implement a suitable research strategy.

8. Enhance the University’s international profile in line with its Strategic Plan, “Inspiring People; Changing the World”.

9. Contribute towards developing and maintaining collaborations with colleagues in the Fuller Myles & Smith groups, funders, industrial partners, and academic colleagues.

10. Present research at internal/external meetings with funders, international and national conferences, and at internal and external seminars, to develop and enhance our research profile.

11. Contribute to the supervision, mentoring and training of undergraduate and/or postgraduate students and less experienced members of the project team to ensure their effective development.

12. Take a leading role in developing and maintaining collaborations with colleagues in the Fuller Myles and Smith groups, funders, industrial partners, and academic colleagues.

13. Take a leading role in team/group meetings/seminars/workshops and School research group activities to enhance the wider knowledge, outputs and culture of the School/College

14. Take the lead in the organisation, supervision, mentoring and training of undergraduate and/or postgraduate students and less experienced members of the project team to ensure their effective development.

Knowledge/Qualifications/Skills/Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:

A1. Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 12 (PhD) plus track record of emerging independence within a research/professional environment, or alternatively possess professional qualifications and experience equivalent to PhD level plus the requisite experience.

A2. Specialist theoretical and practical knowledge of cell physiology, cardiac physiology (in vivo and ex vivo), related techniques, and data analysis.

A3. A comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of heart failure research and contemporary cardiac and cell physiology research methods.

A4. Knowledge of calcium transporters and calcium handling pathways in cardiac ventricular muscle.

Skills

Essential:

C1. Skills measuring cardiac function in vivo and ex vivo.

C2. Data analysis and interpretation skills.

C3. Perfusion of rabbit hearts in the Langendorff mode.

C4. Research creativity and cross-discipline collaborative ability.

C5. Communication skills [oral and written], including ability to communicate complex and/or large volume data clearly and concisely to a varied audience.

C6. Excellent inter-personal skills including team working and a collegiate approach.

C7. Appropriate workload and prioritisation skills, including the ability to balance competing demands whilst sustaining quality output.

C8. Problem solving skills including a flexible and pragmatic approach.

C9. Self-motivation, initiative and independent thought/working.

C10. A track record of presentation and publication of research results in quality journals/conferences.

C11. Ability to demonstrate a degree of independence as illustrated by identification of project objectives from assessment of the literature, design and analysis of experiments and drafting of papers.

Experience

Essential:

E1. Experience measuring and analysing cardiac function in vivo and ex vivo.

E2. Experience with in vivo experimental models of heart failure

E3. Experience of contemporary physiological and molecular physiological techniques.

E4. Experience of interpreting the requirements of others and generating high quality work to meet research objectives.

E5. Experience of working collaboratively with others towards a common goal.

E6. Project or subject specific experience.

E7. Experience of scientific writing.

E8. Proven ability to deliver quality outputs in a timely and efficient manner.

E9. Sufficient depth of relevant research experience, normally including sufficient postdoctoral experience in a related field, appropriate to an early career researcher.

E10. Experience of making a leading contribution in academic activities.

E11. Experience in undertaking independent research.

E12. Commitment to open research, as appropriate to the discipline, through open data, open code, open educational resources, and practices that support replication.

E13. Proven commitment to supporting the career development of colleagues and to other forms of collegiality appropriate to the career stage.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7, £41,064 - £46,049 per annum.

This post is full time (35 hours per week), and open ended with funding available up to 5th January 2030.

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.  If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.