Queen's University Belfast is a driver of innovation based on our talented, multinational workforce. Throughout the University, our academics are collaborating across disciplines to develop new discoveries and insights, working with outside agencies and institutions on projects of international significance. We are connected and networked with strategic partnerships across the world, helping us to expand our impact on wider society locally, nationally and globally. The University is committed to attracting, retaining and developing the best global talent within an environment that enables them to realise their full potential.
We are a leader in gender equality and diversity, and are one of the UK's most successful universities in the Athena SWAN initiative which promotes gender equality and career progression, the School of MDBS has been awarded the Athena SWAN Silver Award in recognition of our work to support women in Science. We are ranked 1st in the UK for knowledge transfer partnerships, (Innovate UK) 9th in the UK for University facilities (Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2018) and 14th in the UK for research quality (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019).
Based in Belfast, a modern capital city, our beautiful campus is surrounded by abundant acres of parkland and is renowned as one of the safest and affordable cities in the UK. The choice of local Schools from pre-nursery upwards are some of the best available, and lovers of the outdoors can enjoy any number of activities from rowing and kayaking to top class golf among many others. We are immensely proud of what our city and our University will offer you.
The Centre for Public Health (CPH) sits within the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences (MDBS) at QUB. The Centre aims to advance the health of the public at a regional, national and international level, by increasing knowledge and influencing clinical and public health practice and policy.
We are recruiting for a Research Fellow in Molecular Analysis of Barrett's Oesophagus who will work with a multi-disciplinary, multi-centre team led by Professor Helen Coleman to help evaluate the molecular age of Barrett's oesophagus in a population-representative sample of patients spanning paediatric to older age groups. Barrett's oesophagus is a pre-malignant condition for oesophageal adenocarcinoma, which is a Cancer Research UK 'Cancer of Unmet Need'. Novel biomarkers are required to identify patients at the highest risk of progression, to enable earlier detection of any neoplastic progression. By combining genome-wide DNA methylation data and computational analyses, it is now possible to quantify a molecular 'clock', reflecting duration of Barrett's oesophagus at the time of incident diagnosis. This project will demonstrate feasibility and generate pilot data to further validate molecular age as a biomarker of Barrett's progression and is funded by a Cancer Research UK Early Detection Primer Award
The post will involve project management and tracking of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples of Barrett's oesophagus identified for the study. This will require close liaison with the Northern Ireland Barrett's register team, Northern Ireland Biobank and study pathologists. Following pathology review and DNA extraction by collaborators, the Research Fellow will work closely with the study team to be trained and have responsibility for the methylation analysis of all samples, and computational analysis of the methylation data. The post holder will acquire skills in project management, laboratory techniques, large data analysis, and will also have primary responsibility for the writing of the resulting publication.
The successful candidate must:
* Have or be about to obtain PhD in relevant discipline.
* At least 3 years' recent research experience and skills relevant to this project.
* Experience of project management, delivering research outcomes, and proven ability to work in a multi-disciplinary environment as part of a research team.
Candidate Information
Informal enquiriesmay be directed to Dr Andrew Kunzmann via email to A.Kunzmann@qub.ac.uk
About the Centre
About the Group Leader
Further Information for International Applicants
Note to EAA Applicants on Brexit