Research Assistant in Bioorthogonal Hydrogels in Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 16 August 2026

The Role

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Assistant to contribute to an intensive research programme within a European-funded collaborative project. The successful candidate will play a key role in the optimisation and characterisation of naturally derived hydrogel systems crosslinked through Strain-Promoted Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition (SPAAC) click chemistry. The project has clearly defined milestones and deliverables that must be achieved within the six-month contract period. Due to the short duration of the post, applicants must already possess practical experience in SPAAC click chemistry and hydrogel/material characterisation techniques, enabling them to contribute effectively with minimal training.

The post holder will work closely with project partners and the wider research team to generate high-quality experimental data, perform statistical analyses, contribute to technical reporting, and support dissemination activities.

• Optimise naturally derived hydrogel formulations using SPAAC click chemistry, supporting the development and refinement of material properties to meet project objectives.
• Design, execute and analyse experimental studies, including Design of Experiments (DoE) approaches and statistical analyses to evaluate formulation and processing parameters.
• Undertake comprehensive physicochemical characterisation of hydrogel systems, including sample preparation, analytical testing and interpretation of data from techniques such as 1H-NMR, FTIR, DSC, rheology and crosslinking assays.
• Analyse, interpret and communicate research findings, contributing to project reports, technical deliverables, presentations, publications and meetings with project partners and stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to deliver project milestones, maintaining accurate research records and ensuring compliance with health and safety, research governance and data management requirements.
• Collect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes.
• Co-ordinate own work with that of others, use problem solving to affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project(s).
• Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project.
• Write up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project’s dissemination, in whatever form (report, papers, chapters, books).
• Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate.

The Person

• Demonstrable hands-on experience with SPAAC click chemistry and hydrogel/biomaterial systems, with the ability to contribute effectively with minimal training.
• Experience in experimental design and data analysis, including Design of Experiments (DoE), statistical analysis, and interpretation of scientific data.
• Practical expertise in material characterisation, including sample preparation, data acquisition and interpretation using techniques such as 1H-NMR, FTIR, DSC, rheology, and chemical assays for assessing crosslinking and material properties.
• Desirable knowledge and experience in basic cell culture.
• Experience maintaining detailed laboratory records and producing scientific reports.
• Attention to detail and ability to work at high levels of accuracy.
• Ability to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences.
• Proven ability to analyse data and write-up results.
• Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues.
• Excellent IT skills in all major office applications.
• The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems.

Attributes and Behaviour

• Commitment to working positively as a member of a multi-skilled research team.
• Ability to negotiate and prioritise multiple, competing responsibilities and to work to deadlines.
• Commitment to continued professional development.
• Understanding of good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity.

Qualifications

• Honours degree or Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering or Materials Science.

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution. We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population. At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme. In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.