Research Associate

University of Sheffield - School of Medicine & Population Health / Faculty of Health

We are seeking a visionary Research & Innovation Fellow to join our team dedicated to revolutionising the treatment of autoimmune and immune-aging diseases. Over 3.5 million people worldwide suffer from the debilitating disease lupus. There is a critical, unmet need for cost-effective therapies that stop inflammatory flares without the complications of traditional immunosuppressive treatments.

This role offers an exciting chance to work on a first-in-class drug program targeting the root cause of active disease.

You will bridge the gap between medicinal chemistry and clinical impact. Your primary focus will be validating novel molecules by performing immune-cell isolations and cultures from both healthy donors and lupus patients. Using advanced cell-based reporters and quantitative PCR assays, you will provide evidence of our molecules' ability to suppress inflammation.

You will also play a key role in the commercialisation of our lead compounds. You will manage experimental design, keep a high standard data room, and help shape the marketing strategy for licensing.

You will hold a PhD (or equivalent experience) in immune biology, be trained in phlebotomy, blood cell isolations and biochemical techniques including qPCR, immune-detection and in data and statistical analysis. You will have knowledge of experimental design, innate immune signalling and immune-ageing disease. Experience or knowledge of commercialisation training and academic-industry partnerships would be an advantage.

This position is designed for an ambitious scientist who thrives at the intersection of biology and industry. You will take a leading role in generating new ideas and mentoring team members, while refining your leadership and transferable commercialisation skills. We’re inviting researchers to help us transform lab work into market-ready life science assets.

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

Find out more at sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits and join us to become part of something special.

We build teams of people from different heritages and lifestyles from across the world, whose talent and contributions complement each other to greatest effect. We believe diversity in all its forms delivers greater impact through research, teaching and student experience.