Research Assistant/Associate (Paediatric Brain Tumour Group)


Company:	Newcastle University
Salary:	£32080-33002 per annum
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Newcastle, NE1 7RU
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	31 Jul 2026
Closing date:	16 Aug 2026

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Summary

We are a world class research-intensive university. We deliver teaching and learning of the highest quality. We play a leading role in economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England. Attracting and retaining high-calibre people is fundamental to our continued success.

The Role

We are excited to announce a new Research Assistant or Associate role within the Paediatric Brain Tumour Research Group, based at the Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Herschel Building, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer. This role will focus on the field of medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumour of childhood, and sits within a wider collaborative program of translational research investigating high-risk MYC-driven medulloblastoma.

The project team comprises of PI Dr Rebecca Hill (Senior Clinical Lecturer), a vibrant group of Early Career Researchers; Dr Melanie Beckett, Dr Louisa Taylor and Dr Saimir Luli, and Professor Steve Clifford (Director of Newcastle University Centre for Cancer). More broadly, you will be embedded in a collaborative, diverse and internationally renowned research group comprising of over twenty researchers from a variety of backgrounds including clinician scientists, basic scientists and bioinformaticians.

In this Little Princess Trust funded project entitled ‘Developing advanced medulloblastoma models for the rapid translation of new therapies into frontline radiotherapy-containing regimens’ we are looking to develop two novel medulloblastoma models of radiotherapy to facilitate the assessment, and clinical translation of new therapeutic approaches into frontline treatment.

Our ex vivo model will expand on our emerging expertise in organotypic slice culture (OSC) systems, whereby we co-culture medulloblastoma tumour spheroids within normal mouse brain slices. Utilising our OSC system we will develop. and dually assess the effect of novel MYC-targeting drug and radiotherapy combinations on tumour and normal tissue. Excitingly our second model will look to recapitulate humanised radiotherapy regimens in vivo, exploiting our already well-established repertoire of orthotopic mouse models of MYC-driven medulloblastoma. These in vivo models will enable us to more accurately model radiotherapy regimens used in children and facilitate the selection of our most effective and safest MYC-targeting drugs that work alongside radiotherapy. Furthermore, the use of molecular barcodes in our in vivo models will provide the foundation for future discovery work, (beyond the lifetime of this project), into the driving mechanisms of radiotherapy resistance and disease relapse.

Throughout this project you will be exposed to a wide variety of research techniques and supported to expand your skill set in ex vivo/in vivo modelling strategies, drug screening, data analysis and optimization of radiotherapy regimens utilising the recently acquired Small Animal Radiation Research Platform (SARRP). We are committed to the professional development of all our colleagues and opportunities to enable individuals to reach their full potential include mentoring, annual research planning discussions, pooled research funding to support career development and research activities, peer review support for the development of research, and innovation funding applications. During the lifetime of this project there will also be fantastic opportunities to work with our international collaborators (located at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Uppsala University, Columbia University, and the Telethon Kids Institute) and networks such as the Innovative Therapies for Children and Adolescents with Cancer (ITCC) and the European Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOPE), to expedite translation of findings into the clinic.

We are therefore particularly keen to hear from applicants with transferable skills in ex vivo and in vivo/mouse modelling systems, an enthusiasm to expand on existing animal skills, a passion for collaboration, and the ability to interact and engage with a diverse network of partners.

Please note that if you are successful to this role, you will require medical clearance before you can commence in the role

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.

Find out more about the Faculty of Medical 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/translational/

Contact for the post is Dr Rebecca Hill. If you’d like an informal discussion to clarify any points, please contact Rebecca.Hill@ncl.ac.uk. We are committed to making the process accessible to everyone and can provide additional support to adjustments to meet your needs.

Duration of post is fixed term for 24 months (2 years).

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