Job Purpose

To make a leading contribution to the UKRI funded MERLIN project (Molecular Engineering for Rapid Low-Cost Metabonomic Profiling and Metabolite Detection) working with Dr William Peveler and the Bio-Nano Sensing group on the design, synthesis, and testing of molecular fluorophores and cavitands for constructing sensing systems. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to lead on the synthesis and testing of new molecular materials for sensing steroids and other small molecule metabolites, using high throughput luminescence assays, in clinical samples. They will also be expected to interface with the other members of the team, providing support in synthesis and characterisation of molecules more broadly, as well as contributing to the formulation and submission of research publications and research proposals and helping to manage and direct this complex and challenging project as opportunities allow.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1.       Take a leading role in the planning and conduct of assigned research individually or jointly in accordance with the project deliverables and project/group/School research strategy.

2.       Document research output including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, drafting technical/progress reports and papers as appropriate.

3.       Establish and maintain your research profile and reputation and that of The University of Glasgow, the School and the Research Group, including establishing and sustaining a track record of independent and joint 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.

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

5.       Presentation of work at international and national conferences, at internal and external seminars, colloquia and workshops to develop and enhance our research profile.

6.       Take a leading role in the identification of potential funding sources and to assist in the development of proposals to secure funding from internal and external bodies to support future research.

7.       Take a leading role in developing and maintaining collaborations with colleagues across the University and wider community (e.g. Academic and Industrial Partners).

8.       Take a leading role in group meetings and School research group activities to enhance the wider knowledge, outputs and culture of the School.

9.       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.

10.    Perform administrative tasks related to the activities of the research group and School, including lab management and expenditure.

11.    Contribute as appropriate to teaching activities (e.g. demonstrating, etc) and associated administration, as may be assigned through the School in consultation with your line manager.

12.    Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field/discipline.

13.    Engage in personal, professional and career development, to enhance both specialist and transferable skills in accordance with desired career trajectory.

14.    Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Head of School/Director of Research Institute.

15.    Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University’s Strategic Plan

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge and 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 A comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of molecular design, synthesis and characterisation methods.

A3 Well-developed working knowledge of research methods, technical models, equipment and techniques relevant to the project/discipline as outlined in the Job Purpose; synthesis of small molecules, especially fluorophores and/or cavitands, purification via flash chromatography or HPLC, and characterisation via NMR, MS and optical techniques as relevant.

Desirable:

B1 Knowledge of the principles of supramolecular or ‘host-guest’ chemistry and how that might be applied to indicator displacement assays.

Skills

Essential:

C1 Skills in the synthesis of small molecules, including multistep reaction planning, and an ability to troubleshoot syntheses as problems arise. Skills in molecular purification of water-soluble molecules including reverse phase HPLC or similar.

C2 Skills in characterisation of molecules and their supramolecular constructs using NMR, MS (ESI, MALDI etc) and optical methods (UV-visible absorbance, luminescence, IR etc).

C3 Ability to communicate material of a specialist or highly technical nature to both lay and specialist audiences, and to be effective both orally and in writing at a level appropriate to the activity.

C4 Effective organisation skills to manage time, prioritise and deliver appropriate research, supervision and administrative responsibilities in the laboratory

Desirable:

D1 Some prior experience in high throughput colorimetric/fluorometric assays and equipment for rapid sample analysis, including plate reading and multichannel pipetting/robotic plate preparation

D2 Skills in measuring and quantifying host-guest interactions using optical methods, isothermal calorimetry etc.

D3 Skills in data pipeline creation and data visualisation in suitable packages (R, Python, JMP, Matlab or similar).

D4 Skills in molecular modelling/simulation for host-guest systems.

Experience

Essential:

E1 Experience of planning and progressing work activities within professional guidelines or organisational policy, applying initiative and independent judgement.

E2 Developing track record of research outputs compatible with enhancing the School’s research profile in accordance with School objectives.

E3 Proven commitment to supporting the career development of junior colleagues and peers, and to other forms of collegiality appropriate to the career stage, including some experience of research project supervision (undergraduate, masters etc.).

E4 Commitment to open research, as appropriate to the discipline, through open data, open code, open educational resources and practices that support replication.

Desirable:

F1 Experience working with blood or other complex biological samples as part of an analysis.

F2 Experience working with/synthetically modifying any of: cyclodextrins, calixarenes, resorcinarenes, cucurbiturils etc. or similar/related molecules

More information on the group, our labs and our projects can be found at https://pevelerlab.com/, and informal enquiries are welcomed to william.peveler@glasgow.ac.uk.

Terms and Conditions

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

This post is full time, and has funding for up to 2 years

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.

Closing date : 23 October 2025 @23:45