Research Assistant in Biological Activity of Natural Products

Job title:

Research Assistant in Biological Activity of Natural Products

Company

Cardiff University

Job description

School / DirectorateCardiff School of ChemistryAdvertResearch Assistant in Biological Activity of Natural Products
Cardiff School of Chemistry
Cardiff UniversityWe seek to recruit an enthusiastic, highly motivated scientist with proven intellectual and technical abilities to work on the isolation and biological activity of natural products signalling between insects and plants. The project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, involves a collaboration between Professor John Pickett FRS (School of Chemistry) and Dr Wynand van der Goes van Naters (School of Biosciences).Mosquito vectors of human pathogens employ natural signals to locate sources of nutrients from plants and particularly for orientating to nectar-producing flowers over relatively long distances. Isolation of the natural signals, particularly from flowering plants, will support chemical identification and provision of the signals for the behavioural studies to confirm and develop long range attractants for mosquitoes. The work will also be collaborative with other scientists studying the neurophysiological responses to such and will develop the new attractants for control mosquitoes.Interested applicants should have a degree in a relevant discipline e.g. biology, biosciences, chemistry (or equivalent experience), and preferably a postgraduate degree at PhD level in one of these disciplines (or relevant industrial experience).Further information is available at the following webpages:
Professor John Pickett FRS andFor informal enquiries about the role and the Cardiff School of Chemistry, please contact Professor John Pickett FRS: e-mail .For further details about working at Cardiff University, please contact Caroline Pasmore ( ) or Dr Mahmoud Akhtar ( )This position is full time (35 hours per week) and is available immediately until 15th June 2025 to cover maternity leave.To work for an employer that values and promotes equality of opportunity, please visit and search for vacancy number: 18770BR.Salary: £32,332 – £34,980 per annum (Grade 5).Important note: It is the University’s policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing. Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable. As part of the application process you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement. Please ensure that the evidence you are providing corresponds with the numbered criteria outlined below. Your application will be considered based on the information you provide under each element.When attaching the supporting statement to your application profile, please ensure that you name it with the vacancy reference number, e.g. Supporting Statement for 18770BR.Closing date: 28 July 2024Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at:Post Reference Number18770BRJob DescriptionMain Function
To contribute to research within the area of chemical signalling between insects and plants, principally involving isolation of biological samples and determining biological activity, carrying out supporting work that helps lead to the publishing of high-quality research. To pursue excellence in research and to inspire others to do the sameMain Duties and ResponsibilitiesResearch

• To undertake research within the area of chemical signalling between insects and plants, specifically the attraction of mosquitoes by volatile compounds associated with feeding on floral nectar, by planning, preparing, setting up, conducting and recording the outcome of experiments;
• Actively participate within the research group, communicating and presenting research at meetings, through publications and other recognised avenues as appropriate, ensuring information is communicated to internal and external partners
• To contribute and support research publications and presentations as required;
• To contribute and support research funding bids as required;
• To analyse and communicate complex ideas, concepts and data using appropriate methods and packages;

To resolve issues and support colleagues in devising procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting; * To generate research output and contribute to the development of independent and original ideas as appropriate;

• To provide support in research activities for undergraduate courses and research programmes and provide guidance to other members of staff within the research team;
• To maintain and update area of specialist knowledge, researching and critically appraising relevant literature within the area.

Other

• To participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world;
• To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance;
• To ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties;
• To abide by the University policies on Health and Safety and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion;
• Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role

Salary Range Max.34,980GradeGrade 5Salary Range Min.32,332Job CategoryAcademic – ResearchAdditional InformationProject DescriptionThe project comprises a new multidisciplinary programme and is collaborative with other scientists beyond the School of Chemistry. In order to identify natural chemical signals effecting long range mosquito attraction, the work will centre on the identification and provision of volatile components of flowering plants as sugar sources for these insects. Samples of volatiles will be entrained from air on porous polymers and the volatile samples eluted with purified solvents for analysis by gas chromatography (GC). Compounds giving GC peaks, associated with bioactivity established by collaborators on the project, will be tentatively identified by GC coupled mass spectrometry (GC-MS) Further chemical analytical techniques will confirm structures by use of spectroscopically authenticated compounds from synthesis and sustainable natural sources. The compounds will be used in confirming the bioactivity as new mosquito attractants. These attractants will be employed in the development of lure and kill strategies against mosquito vectors of pathogens, specifically those causing malaria, in association with emerging commercial and international partners.Career PathwayResearchPerson SpecificationIMPORTANT NOTE TO CANDIDATES: It is the University’s policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing and we only invite candidates to interview who clearly evidence that they meet (or partially meet) each of the essential criteria. During the application process you will be asked to attach a supporting statement. This statement must outline how you meet the criteria below and we recommended formatting this by using each criteria as a sub-heading and providing your relevant experience/evidence below each sub-heading. It is crucial that you save your supporting statement with the vacancy number (eg. 1234BR) in the filename as failure to do so may result in it being omitted from your application.Essential CriteriaQualifications and Education * A degree in relevant discipline e.g. biology, biosciences, chemistry, or equivalent experience
Knowledge, Skills and Experience * Knowledge of research methods and techniques within chemical ecology for example the study of natural products influencing the biology, and particularly the behaviour, of pest or beneficial insects

• Proven ability to analyse complex information and summarise appropriately
• Knowledge and understanding of competitive research funding to be able to develop applications to funding bodies

Communication and Team Working * Proven communication skills, including presentation to various audiences

• Excellent organisational and team-working skills

Other * Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and teamworking within work
Desirable Criteria * Postgraduate degree at PhD level (or nearing completion/ submission) in a synthetic materials chemistry with applications in supported reagents and formulation science.

• Evidence of collaborations with industry
• Proven ability to work without close supervision
• Proven ability to adapt to the changing requirements of the Higher Education community
• Fluency in Welsh, written and oral

Expected salary

£32332 – 34980 per year

Location

United Kingdom

Job date

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 01:56:38 GMT

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