Research Assistant (Fixed Term)

University of Cambridge - Department of Pharmacology

Location: Cambridge

Salary: £33,002 to £35,608 per annum

Hours: Full Time

Contract Type: Fixed-Term/Contract

Placed On: 20th August 2025

Closes: 15th September 2025

Job Ref: PL46992

The Rahman lab (https://www.phar.cam.ac.uk/research/rahman) at the Department of Pharmacology is looking for an enthusiastic Research Assistant (RA) to work on an EPSRC-funded collaborative project ('Target-specific machine-learning scoring functions for reliable structure-based virtual screening') with Dr Pedro Ballester (https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/p.ballester). The role of the RA essentially involves evaluating some chosen small molecule hits against two targets namely TRPM8 ion channel and ATM kinase, using relevant plate reader-based functional assays (doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00404; doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01092).

You should hold or be close to completing minimally an MSc degree in an appropriate field (e.g. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences etc.) and have relevant experience at an equivalent level, ideally with proven hands-on experience in plate reader based assay for measuring cell calcium and in quantitative immunofluorescence assay (e.g. in-cell western assay) along with basic cell culturing. You are expected to work both independently and as part of a diverse vibrant team and have excellent communication, analytical, organisational and problem-solving skills.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 12 months.

Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV) including a publication list and a covering letter in the Upload section of the online portal. Please also include names and contact details (e-mail and phone number) of two referees. Any other unsolicited documents will not be considered. Please submit your application by midnight on the closing date.

Information about the Department of Pharmacology can be found on our website: www.phar.cam.ac.uk

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click the 'Apply' button above.

Informal enquiries about the position can be made to Dr Taufiq Rahman (mtur2@cam.ac.uk)

For enquiries about the online application process, please contact the HR Team, hr@phar.cam.ac.uk