At a Glance
- Tasks: Conduct groundbreaking research on antiviral therapies and collaborate with global experts.
- Company: Join a leading research team at the University of Sheffield.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and opportunities for international collaboration.
- Other info: Dynamic research environment with excellent career growth and networking opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in global health by tackling viral infections.
- Qualifications: PhD in virology or immunology, with lab experience and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 38784 - 47389 £ per year.
We are seeking a highly motivated and talented Research Associate to join a multi-disciplinary research team at the University of Sheffield. This position is part of a high-impact, international collaboration aimed at developing a pan-viral prophylactic therapy against respiratory viral infections. The project focuses on priming broader antiviral immunity by understanding and programming innate immunity within the nasal epithelium to develop a durable, broad-spectrum intervention against infection and transmission.
Responsibilities
- Design and conduct laboratory experiments to achieve the project’s aims, including establishing Air-Liquid Interface respiratory cultures using primary human nasal epithelial cells; controlled viral infection studies with Influenza virus, RSV, Rhinovirus and SARS-CoV-2; and single-cell multiomic assays (scRNA-seq and scATAC-seq).
- Collaborate with local and international team members to align experimental workflows and meet technical milestones, including travelling to laboratories in the USA and the Netherlands.
- Prepare high-quality data for technical reports, presentations, and peer-reviewed publications.
- Stay updated on emerging trends in mucosal immunology, virology, and single-cell technologies.
- Support day-to-day laboratory operations, ensuring compliance with Health & Safety regulations, COSHH, risk assessments and SOPs.
- Carry out any other duties commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.
Qualifications
- Hold a PhD (or equivalent) in virology, immunology or an equivalent field.
- Extensive experience of viral culture and quantification.
- Extensive experience of cell culture.
- Ability to work independently in a laboratory environment and complete tasks to a high standard.
- Demonstrated ability and experience in the design and interpretation of laboratory experiments.
- Ability to adhere to research protocols, maintain study deadlines and keep meticulous records of experiments undertaken.
- Excellent academic track record including evidence of publications, prizes, and/or presentations at national/international conferences.
- Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, report writing skills, and experience of delivering presentations.
- Track record of supervising PhD, MSc, or undergraduate students.
- Ability to work constructively and effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
Desirable: experience of single-cell sequencing assays, experience of flow cytometry, evidence of analysing next-generation sequencing data.
Compensation £38,784 - £47,389 per annum. Full-time, Grade 7. Duration: 01 August 2026 for 48 months. Closing date 19 June 2026.
Research Associate - Engineered Antiviral Resilience in Sheffield employer: Diversity Dashboard
The University of Sheffield is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work environment that fosters innovation in research. As a Research Associate, you will have the opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking projects in virology and immunology while benefiting from a supportive culture that prioritises professional development and interdisciplinary collaboration. Located in a vibrant city known for its rich academic heritage, the university provides access to state-of-the-art facilities and a network of international partnerships, ensuring a rewarding and impactful career path.
