Research Associate in Chemical Biology in Cardiff

We seek to recruit an enthusiastic, highly motivated scientist with proven intellectual and technical abilities to work on an enzymology project. The project, funded by an industrial sponsor, seeks to develop a system for expressing a recombinant protease in Bacillus subtilis and to characterise the enzyme using a high-throughput assay. A library of protease variants will also be prepared and evaluated for use in a variety of applications.

Applicant requirements:

• Applicants must hold a postgraduate degree at PhD level (or nearing completion / submission) in a relevant area of Chemical Biology, Enzymology or relevant industrial experience.

This position is full time (35 hours per week) and is available from 1 January 2026 for 1 year. Salary: £41,064 - £46,049 per annum (Grade 6). It is not anticipated that an appointment be made above £41,064 per annum (Grade 6.32).

Main function:

To conduct research on an industrially funded project on the design of new enzymes and contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University, carrying out research leading to the publishing of high-quality research. To pursue excellence in research and to inspire others to do the same.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• To conduct research on the design of new enzymes and contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University by the production of measurable outputs including bidding for funding, publishing in national academic journals and conferences, and the recruitment and supervision of postgraduate research students.
• To develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research including research funding proposals.
• To attend and/or present at conferences/seminars at a local and national level as required.
• To undertake administrative tasks associated with the research project, including the planning and organisation of the project and the implementation of procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
• To prepare research ethics and research governance applications as appropriate.
• To review and synthesise existing research literature within the field.
• To participate in School research activities.
• To build and create networks both internally and externally to the university, to influence decisions, explore future research requirements, and share research ideas for the benefit of research projects.

Other:

• To engage effectively with industrial, commercial and public sector organisations, professional institutions, other academic institutions etc., regionally and nationally to raise awareness of the School’s profile, to cultivate strategically valuable alliances, and to pursue opportunities for collaboration across a range of activities.
• To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.
• To participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world.
• Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.

Person Specification:

IMPORTANT NOTE TO CANDIDATES: It is the University’s policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing and we only invite candidates to interview who clearly evidence that they meet (or partially meet) each of the essential criteria.

Essential Criteria:

• Postgraduate degree at PhD level (or nearing completion / submission) in Enzymology, Protein Chemistry, or relevant industrial experience.
• An established expertise and proven portfolio of research or relevant industrial experience within the following research fields:
• Protein Expression
• Mechanistic Enzymology
• Knowledge of current status of research in specialist field.
• Proven ability to publish in international journals and present at national/international conferences.
• Proven ability to be successful in competitive research funding or knowledge and understanding of competitive research funding to be able to develop applications to funding bodies.

Communication and Team Working:

• Ability in effective and persuasive communication.
• Ability to supervise the work of others to focus team efforts and motivate individuals.

Other:

• Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and team-working within work.
• Proven ability to work without close supervision.

Desirable Criteria:

• Evidence of working in an interdisciplinary team.
• Evidence of collaborations with industry.
• Experience in designing and performing enzyme assays.
• Experience in obtaining recombinant proteins by expression in Bacillus subtilis.
• Experience in using computer-based methods to understand protein structure and protein/ligand complexes.
• Proven ability to adapt to the changing requirements of the Higher Education community.
• Evidence of ability to participate in and develop both internal and external networks and utilise them to enhance the research activities of the School.

Project Description:

We will develop an expression system for obtaining a recombinant protease by secretion from Bacillus subtilis and characterise the enzyme using a high-throughput assay. A library of protease variants will be prepared and screened for enhanced thermal stability and catalytic activity.