Research Associate/Fellow (FTC)

University of Nottingham - Life Sciences

Location: Nottingham

Salary: £31,387 to £46,485 per annum, depending on skills and experience (minimum £34866 with relevant PhD). Salary progression beyond this scale is subject to performance.

Hours: Full Time

Contract Type: Fixed-Term/Contract

Placed On: 10th September 2025

Closes: 8th October 2025

Job Ref: MED228025

This is a 7-month project funded by The Medical Research Foundation at the interface of cancer biology and neuronal function investigating how cancer and cancer chemotherapy impacts on sensitisation and pain. As part of a multidisciplinary team based in Nottingham, this Post-Doctoral Research Associate/Fellow will support the project entitled “Extracellular vesicles as conduits for the transfer of biologically active compounds which mediate cancer chemotherapy based pain in early life”.

The scientist appointed to this role will undertake laboratory-based research to identify and characterise the cargo of extracellular vesicles (EV) derived from chemotherapy treated medulloblastoma (the most common malignant brain tumour in childhood) cell lines, investigate how these alter the functional properties of sensory neurons and determine their biodistribution and impact on pain behaviours in laboratory rodents. Pain is the primary side-effect of cancer chemotherapy and not only impacts patients undergoing treatment but also significantly impacts cancer survivors leading to long-lasting, deleterious effects on mental and physical health as well as engagement with wider society.

This is especially true when cancer occurs in childhood where chemotherapy induced pain can lead to alterations in the development and maturation of both peripheral and central nervous systems, which can result in long-term changes in neuronal function and pain processing.

This is a truly innovative and ground-breaking collaborative project between the PI Prof Gareth Hathway (School of Life Sciences), and the Co-Is Dr Federico Dajas-Bailador (School of Life Sciences), Prof Beth Coyle (School of Medicine) and Prof Vicky James (School of Veterinary Medicine). The research team comprise expertise in childhood pain, molecular and cellular neuroscience, cancer biology, extracellular vesicle biology and in vivo modelling. The project itself will combine expertise in neuroscience and cancer biology and has the potential to lead to findings which can be rapidly translated into patient benefit.

The post holder will be expected to undertake independent research as well as working as part of a multidisciplinary team that will employ experimental approaches, techniques and methodologies appropriate to the type of research needed at each stage of the project. The postdoctoral researcher will also be responsible for writing up and presenting their work in order to contribute to scientific meetings and published outcomes. The candidate should enjoy teamwork and should have excellent communication skills as well as the ability to work across different areas of the biomedical sciences.

This is a FTC, full time position.

For more information or an informal discussion please contact Prof Gareth Hathway (gareth.hathway@nottingham.ac.uk).