About this role
<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:12.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Salary: </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Research Associate £36,636 to £46,049 per annum<br></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:12.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent <a style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" href="https://www.ncl.ac.uk/vacancies/benefits/">benefits</a>. 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.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:12.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Closing Date: 15 July 2026</span></span></p> <p> </p><p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><strong>The Role</strong></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">This Bradlaw Fellowship is a highly prestigious postdoctoral opportunity focused on delivering ENHANCE D+, a major follow on programme building directly on the NIHR-funded ENHANCE D trial, one of the largest and potentially most influential trials ever undertaken in UK primary dental care.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">The fellow will address key post trial research priorities through four linked work packages: an updated systematic review incorporating ENHANCE D data; secondary analyses examining socioeconomic and demographic inequalities in cessation outcomes; focused laboratory studies using validated in vitro gingival and epithelial models to investigate inflammatory and cytotoxic responses relevant to trial findings; and the development and evaluation of an evidence based training resource for the dental team. The laboratory component draws on unique infrastructure and established modelling approaches to generate mechanistic insight that cannot be obtained from clinical trial data alone. The programme is explicitly translational, with laboratory findings, quantitative analyses and educational outputs integrated to inform interpretation of the trial, future funding applications, and wider implementation across dental practice.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of <a href="https://www.ncl.ac.uk/mediav8/working-at-newcastle/files/Research%20%20Innovation%20Role%20Profiles.pdf">Research Innovation Role Profiles.pdf</a>. 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.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Find out more about the Faculty of Medical Sciences <a title="" href="https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/" target="_self">https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/</a></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Find out more about our Research Institutes: <a title="" href="https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/research/institutes/" target="_self">https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/research/institutes/</a></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Contact for the post is <a title="" href="[email protected]" target="_self">[email protected]</a></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Duration of post is 2 years</span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><strong>Key Accountabilities</strong></span></p> <p> </p> <ul> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Begin to write, with appropriate support, proposals for individual research funding or, where funders do not permit this, contribute to the writing of collective bids</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">May be involved in the supervision, with guidance, of final year undergraduate research projects and in providing support to postgraduate research students or Research Assistants</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Will need to work with the support staff and, on occasions, with undergraduate and postgraduate students, and interact intellectually with other academic members of the Institute.</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">May contribute to events celebrating the public engagement of science/social sciences/humanities</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Develop an awareness of University structures, policies and procedures and relevant issues in the higher education, research, social and political environment</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of the project</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Determine appropriate methodologies for research</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Contribute to the writing up of the research and its dissemination, either through seminar and conference presentations or through publications</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Present research findings, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the discipline</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and develop own research objectives and proposals for funding</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Collect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Co-ordinate own work with that of others, use problem solving to affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project(s)</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Write up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project’s dissemination, in whatever form (report, papers, chapters, books)</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate</span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><strong> </strong></span><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><strong> </strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><strong>The Person</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><strong> </strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><strong>Knowledge, Skills and Experience </strong></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Experience in conducting in vitro experiments</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Experience of key laboratory techniques for investigating cellular immune responses to stimuli</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Experience of conducting systematic reviews</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Experience of epidemiological research</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Experience of working on interdisciplinary projects</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Experience of cell/tissue culture</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Attention to detail and ability to work at high levels of accuracy</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Ability to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Proven ability to analyse data and write-up results</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Excellent IT skills in all major office applications</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Awareness of the research environment</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">High level of analytical and problem solving capacity</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Ability to communicate complex information with clarity</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Experience of presentations at conferences and/or in high quality publications</span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><strong>Attributes and Behaviour</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Commitment to working positively as a member of a multi-skilled research team</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Ability to negotiate and prioritise multiple, competing responsibilities and to work to deadlines</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Commitment to continued professional development</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Understanding of good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><strong> </strong></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><strong>Qualifications</strong></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"> </p> <ul> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">PhD in a relevant research area</span></li> </ul> <p style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"> </p><p><span style="font-size:12.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">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.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:12.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">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.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:12.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">At Newcastle University we hold a Gold<a href="https://www.ncl.ac.uk/edi/gender/"> Athena Swan</a> award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a <span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.ncl.ac.uk/edi/race/">Race Equality Charter</a></span></span> Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign"> <u>Disability Confident</u></a> 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.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:12.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12.0px"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Requisition ID: 29551</span></span></p>