About the role

We are looking for a Research Associate to join us, as part of a package of support provided by the University of Leicester in relation to the NIHR-BRC Core and Cardiovascular Themes. You will join a dynamic and rapidly expanding research group which has secured over £9 million in research grants in the last 24 months.

You will be based at the University of Leicester van Geest Omics facility at the Hodgkin Building in an outstanding environment. Research infrastructure includes a NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), a BHF funded Clinical Research Centre, a BHF Accelerator centre award and 4-year PhD programme, the van Geest MultiOmics facility, a NIHR Clinical Research Facility including a dedicated 3T MRI research scanner (BHF funded Siemens Vida with multinuclear capability) and clinical physiology labs/consulting rooms. The van Geest multiOmics facility is equipped with cutting-edge equipment for high-throughput biomarker discovery and translation, including over 10 state-of-the-art mass spectrometers, most recently a brand new timsTOF HT platform for high throughput plasma proteomics and multiple automation platforms such as the Andrew+ and Bravo AssayMAP.

You will work closely with Professors Leong Ng, Don Jones and Gerry McCann and other staff working on a programme of research around the early detection, diagnosis and prevention of heart failure in people with type 2 diabetes. The primary project is to develop omic signatures and pathway enrichment analyses for the presence of subclinical cardiovascular dysfunction detected by cardiac MRI in a multi-ethnic cohort of asymptomatic adults with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (PREDICT study). In addition, we are conducting a multi-centre randomised controlled trial of low-calorie diet in HFpEF with MRI and plasma sampling.

You will manage sample preparation using the automated platforms available at the facility and the acquisition of mass spectrometry data for proteomic and metabolomic review of plasma samples from the above studies. You will also manage the downstream bioinformatics of this high dimensional data, and perform pathway enrichment investigations to delineate the most impacted disease processes in early heart failure in type 2 diabetes.

Following on, you will facilitate on the design of targeted assays for candidate’s biomarkers for these conditions using the Waters TQ-XS platform, and use these to verify and validate biomarkers and biotargets. This work is one of the flagship projects of the NIHR Leicester BRC and you will work closely with colleagues in the Leicester Diabetes Centre and the Leicester Precision Medicine Institute.

About you

Our ideal candidate will be a Researcher with, or capable of obtaining, independent funding as a principal investigator and will be encouraged to apply for personal fellowships. Knowledge of proteomic and small molecule sample preparation and mass spectrometric acquisition of data for complex downstream bioinformatic pathway analysis is mandatory. Knowledge of type 2 diabetes and/or cardiac imaging is desirable

Additional information

Informal enquiries are welcome and should be directed to Dr Gavin Whyman on [email protected].

Applications for job share will be considered.

As part of the University’s ongoing commitment to professional development, this role will also be considered on a seconded basis for existing staff members. Please ensure this is discussed with your line manager prior to applying. More information regarding secondments can be found here.

The University of Leicester has been changing the world, and changing people’s lives, for 100 years. When you join us, you’ll become part of a community of Citizens of Change, which includes not only our staff and our current students but also thousands of Leicester graduates around the world.

As a diverse and forward-thinking employer, we embed the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion into everything we do. That includes not just our core missions of teaching and research, but also our support for staff, students and our local community through our values of Inspiring, Impactful and Inclusive through our values of Inspiring, Impactful and Inclusive.

We’re committed to the wellbeing of all our staff and to the sustainability of our environment, on our campus and beyond. We offer a competitive salary package, excellent pension scheme and a generous annual leave allowance, along with opportunities to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative environment.