Research Associate - Proteomics

Salary: £36,636 to £46,049 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 19 October 2026

The Role

You will join the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, an internationally recognised centre of excellence in neuromuscular disease research, embedded within a multidisciplinary environment of clinicians, scientists, and computational researchers. This postdoctoral position offers a distinctive opportunity to contribute to an ambitious and collaborative programme focused on the “dark proteome” in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), in partnership with leading groups at the Human Technopole in Milan, Italy, and University of Colorado Anschutz, USA. A central aspect of the role will be the preparation, processing and analysis of skeletal muscle samples for proteomic and transcriptomic workflows, requiring hands-on expertise in working with complex tissues. The postholder will lead on optimising and implementing these sample preparation workflows, while also contributing to downstream data interpretation within a proteogenomic workflow. In addition to this project, the candidate will support and contribute to related proteomics and omics studies within the Centre, making this an ideal role for a researcher seeking to combine technical leadership with broader involvement in translational research.

The main project aims to characterise the “dark proteome” in FSHD, with a focus on identifying previously unannotated or poorly characterised protein species arising from non-canonical translation and related mechanisms. Using patient-derived skeletal muscle biopsies and complementary experimental systems, the study will generate high-quality proteomic datasets, with particular emphasis on robust and reproducible sample preparation from challenging tissue. These data will be integrated with transcriptomic and clinical datasets to uncover novel disease mechanisms, identify candidate biomarkers, and inform therapeutic development. The collaboration with partners at the Human Technopole provides access to complementary expertise and advanced analytical approaches, allowing a comprehensive and high-impact investigation into previously unexplored aspects of muscle biology in FSHD.

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of Research Innovation Role Profiles.pdf.  These profiles set out firstly the generic competencies and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and, secondly, the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.

Newcastle University is committed to the responsible use of research metrics as part of our research culture and research strategy. We advocate for the transparent, appropriate, and inclusive use of metrics, guided by expert judgment, to support high-quality, impactful research that is open, collaborative and sustainable. Click here for our full policy statement on the Responsible use of Research Metrics. Click here for a self-study e-learning module on the Responsible Use of Research Metrics.

Please note if you are successful in the role, you will require medial clearance before commencing the role. 

Find out more about the Faculty of Medcial Sciences here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/ 

Find out more about our Research Institutes: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/research/institutes/ 

Contact for the post is Prof Giorgio Tasca [email protected]

Duration of post is until 31 July 2028. 

Key Accountabilities

• 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


• Lead the preparation and processing of skeletal muscle and related biological samples for transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, including optimisation and implementation of robust workflows for complex tissues


• Design, perform, and troubleshoot RNA and protein extraction, digestion, and sample quality control procedures to ensure high-quality and reproducible outputs for downstream mass spectrometry


• Coordinate with internal and external facilities (e.g, collaboration with HT in Milan) to support data generation, ensuring appropriate experimental design, sample handling, and metadata capture


• Contribute to the analysis and biological interpretation of proteomic datasets in collaboration with HT, integrating findings with transcriptomic and clinical data


• Support and contribute to additional proteomics and omics projects within the Centre, fostering collaboration and contributing to publications, reports, and grant applications

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience 

• Demonstrated hands-on experience in protein sample preparation for mass spectrometry, ideally from human or animal complex tissues, preferably skeletal muscle or similarly challenging biological material


• Substantial prior experience and specialized training in quantitative proteomics methodologies and their application to complex biological samples in a research setting


• Strong understanding of proteomics workflows, including protein extraction, digestion, and quality control


• Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, optimize and troubleshoot mass spectrometry experiments from the outset of the appointment


• Experience of analysing and interpreting large-scale proteomics datasets using appropriate bioinformatics and statistical approaches


• Familiarity with transcriptomics workflows, RNA extraction for transcriptomic analysis, and integration of proteomic data with other omics datasets


• Track record of disseminating research findings in the proteomic field (preferably through peer reviewed publications)


• Attention to detail and ability to work at high levels of accuracy


• Ability to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences


• Proven ability to analyse data and write-up results


• Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues


• Excellent IT skills in all major office applications


• The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems


• Awareness of the research environment


• High level of analytical and problem solving capacity


• Ability to communicate complex information with clarity


• Experience of presentations at conferences and/or in high quality publications

Attributes and Behaviour

• Commitment to working positively as a member of a multi-skilled research team


• Ability to negotiate and prioritise multiple, competing responsibilities and to work to deadlines


• Commitment to continued professional development


• Understanding of good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity

Qualifications

• PhD in in the research area required  (e.g. molecular biology, biochemistry, proteomics, or related field)

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 29718