About The Role
For informal enquiries, please contact Alex Baker (Assistant Professor - Leverhulme Early Career Fellow) at [Confidential Information].
Applications are invited for a post-doctoral research fellow position as part of a collaborative project under the supervision of Dr Alex Baker in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Warwick. This project will be carried out in collaboration with Prof. Laustsen-Kiel, a world-renown expert in snakebite diagnostics based at DTU, Denmark, and co-founder of VenomAid, and Mr Jürgensen the co-founding CEO of VenomAid.
This role will advance the Baker Humanitarian Research Groups research to produce a proof-of-concept lateral flow device (LFD) for detecting snake venom in biologically relevant media. This will include exploring; 1) glycans used to detect snake venoms and 2) applying these systems into lateral flow devices. Work performed by researchers in the group has demonstrated the use of glycan functionalised gold nanoparticles to detect for
C. atrox venom in doped-buffer versus protein controls. This is corroborated by initial biolayer interferometry (BLI) studies using simple sugars. Further focused work, in this role, will decrease the limit of detection of the system, refine the glycans used, and enable testing against a panel of snake venoms in biologically relevant media in LFDs. This will provide a proof of concept and place the research in a strong position to seek industrial collaborations for commercialisation.
We will consider applications for employment on a part-time or other flexible working basis, even where a position is advertised as full-time, unless there are operational or other objective reasons why it is not possible to do so.
About You
We are looking to recruit a highly motivated person with imaginative ideas and a passion for science, with expertise in synthetic chemistry. You should have experience of the synthesis of small organic molecules, including carbohydrates/glycans, and molecular characterisation methods, including nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), Fourier-transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) and mass spectrometry. The project involves several aspects and provides an opportunity to use your expertise and develop new skills across synthesis and diagnostic design. It would be desirable if you have experience in diagnostic design (especially lateral flow), or the aptitude to learn these techniques, and experience working with industry collaborators. You will be expected to undertake funded visit(s) to collaborators in Denmark to support the progress of the project.
The project is funded through the EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) and is expected to generate new IP and impact the scientific community in several ways e.g. It presents an emerging opportunity in the promotion of outreach of how scientific research contributes to global societal challenges, such as neglected tropical diseases. Thus, you are likely to engage with stakeholders and communicate the progress of the research in the form of high-level technical reports and presentations. Further, you are encouraged to engage with companies to screen collaborative research opportunities and grow your academic and industrial network.
You will hold (or be near completion of) a PhD in Chemistry or equivalent in a relevant scientific discipline. You should be able to work both independently and within the multi-site team and be able to inspire and lead junior researchers (PhD, MChem, MSc). You will also need to have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and experience of presenting your work to both national and international audiences. There will also be opportunities to engage in teaching.
For further information regarding the skills required for this role please see the personal specification section of the attached job description.
If you are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD but have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant at the top of level 5 of the University grade structure. Upon receipt of evidence of the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of level 6 of the University grade structure.
About The Department
The Department of Chemistry at Warwick is a thriving community of students, academics, researchers, and support staff.
Our fundamental research pushes boundaries in all major fields of Chemistry. Through collaborations with the wider science community and industry, our applied work aims to tackle huge global issues from antimicrobial resistance, to solar energy harvesting, and sustainable materials.
We provide an inclusive, vibrant and friendly environment where our students have dedicated support to explore their passion for chemistry.
Athena SWANSilver Award
We are committed to supporting staff to achieve their potential. Both the Department of Chemistry and the University of Warwick hold Athena SWAN silver awards, a national initiative that recognises the advancement of gender equality, representation, progression, and success for all in academia. We provide a welcoming and inclusive working and learning environment, recognising that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, and valued. We welcome applications from individuals who identify with any of the protected characteristics defined by the Equality Act 2010. We are supportive of staff with caring responsibilities.
For more information, please see here.
About The University
Born in the 60s with a mindset of boldness, imagination and collaboration, the University of Warwick is a world-leading research-intensive university with the highest academic and research standards. Were one of the worlds top universities, ranked 67th in the world and 10th in the UK*, with 92% of our research assessed to be world leading or internationally excellent**.
You'll be joining a diverse, innovative and globally connected community committed to igniting real world progress. Here at Warwick, we offer you opportunities to follow your ambitions as long as you bring the energy and determination to succeed.
- QS World University Rankings 2024
- Research Excellence Framework 2021
To find out more about us visit our website.
How to Apply
CLOSING DATE: Tuesday 06 August 2024 at 11.55pm
To apply, please click Apply below and submit an application form by the closing date. Please plan for any potential delays as
you will not be able to submit an application past this deadline (even if you opened the form at, say, 11.30pm).
Please attach a CV and cover letter.
- Your CV should include your most recent employment experience, any other relevant experience, and education history.
- Your cover letter must detail how you meet each of the essential criteria found in the Job Description document below (desirable criteria too, where possible).
Please see here for guidance on writing a cover letter. We
highly recommend using individual criteria as headers and giving examples below, though you are free to format the letter as you wish.
To streamline our hiring processes, we can only accept applications via our official website, warwick-careers.tal.net.
Interview Date: TBC
Start Date: TBC
What we Offer
We will provide you with a great range of benefits, which include an attractive pension scheme, 30 days holiday plus Christmas closure, excellent learning and development opportunities, and savings on a wide range of products and services. We offer a generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy, and onsite childcare facilities.
We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer you access to flexible working, for more information click here.
We are proud to say that we are a Living Wage employer.
If you are considering relocating to the UK, read our Relocation Guide to find out more about what Warwick has to offer and what might be involved in the process.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
Warwick is committedto building an organisation ofmutual respectanddignity, promoting awelcoming, diverse, and inclusive workingand learning environment. We recognise that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to berecognised, respected, and valued. Where possible, we go beyond legislation to provide a place where everyone can thrive, supporting all staff to achieve their full potential. We aspire to remove economic, social, and cultural barriers that may otherwise prevent people from succeeding.
We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation. To find out more about our social inclusion work at Warwick visit our webpageshere.
The University currently holds aRace Equality Charter Bronze Award,Athena Swan Sliver Awardand aDisability Smart Bronze Award.The University of Warwick is also one of the six founder institutions of theEUTOPIA European University Alliance.
Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)
The University of Warwick complies with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against anyone who makes a Disclosure relating to a conviction or other information revealed. More information is available on the Universitys Vacancy pages and applicants may request a copy of the DBS Code of Practice.
Job Description
JD - Research Fellow (109454).pdf 161KB Opens in a new window
Right to Work in the UK
If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa, please follow this link which contains further information about obtaining the right to work in the UK.
