At a Glance
- Tasks: Use cutting-edge techniques to analyse and classify cellular structures in exciting research projects.
- Company: Join the Rosalind Franklin Institute, a leader in innovative healthcare technology.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, generous pension, hybrid working, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team in a beautiful countryside location with great career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in cell biology and contribute to groundbreaking medical discoveries.
- Qualifications: PhD/DPhil or equivalent experience in relevant fields; creativity and collaboration are key.
The predicted salary is between 38500 - 38500 £ per year.
The Rosalind Franklin Institute (the Franklin) is a technology institute established by the UK Government as a unique centre committed to advancing tools that are needed to transform healthcare in the future.
The Institute brings together researchers in life and physical sciences, and engineering, to develop a spectrum of tools which we will use to image, interpret and intervene in biological systems.
These insights will speed up the discovery of new medicines, help find new diagnostics and contribute to a deeper understanding of human health and disease.
Our Science Strategy seeks to focus the Franklin’s research and unite our researchers around our Technology Innovation Challenges and Life Science Challenges.
For more information on the Franklin’s Challenges click here.
This is an exciting research opportunity to join the Virtu AI Cell project which aims to develop a virtual mapping of intracellular contents of biological cells.
This leads to the ultimate goal of running in-silico cell simulations that use such mappings to model how the dynamics of intracellular contents may modulate in response to various types of cell disturbances; e. g., due to the injection of a drug molecule; or the intracellular growth of cancer promoting mutations, the checking of which one could model to predict new routes towards preventative cancer.
The Research Associate will develop and apply persistent homology to automatically classify cellular structure in experimental 2-D microscopy and 3-D tomography data, to help build a virtual mapping of biological cells.
The role-holder will use persistent homology to represent and classify biomedical structure and explore how such structural representations can track over multi-scale image resolutions.
The work may also involve applying topological data analysis (TDA) to assist with the design, construction and deployment of new feature engineering and optimisation strategies for the machine-learning (ML) modelling of cellular data.
More generally, this role offers a great opportunity for an expert in persistent homology to become a valued member of a highly interdisciplinary, challenge-focused project team that aims to solve a global research challenge.
As a Research Associate at the Franklin, you will bring scientific knowledge and skills to deliver a specific research project and/or you will bring independent, creative science, or specific skills to a team delivering a project or program.
Through this work, you will build scientific independence, develop new science and leadership skills, and establish a growing reputation externally.
Key Responsibilities
As a Research Associate, you will
- Employ persistent homology to represent and classify structures in cell biology, using experimental data from 2-D microscopy images and 3-D tomograms
- Analyse and interpret results from persistent homology in liaison with experts in cell biology
- Apply persistent homology to track structural representations of biocellular species over multi-scale image resolutions
- Use persistent homology to track structural representations of biocellular species over time
- Curate large volumes of simulated data to help develop persistent homology for cell biology
- Apply TDA to assist ML modellers with the feature engineering and optimisation of cellular data
- Create data representations using TDA to help make more efficient ML models for cell biology
- Perform or supervise data annotation for training and evaluation purposes where necessary
- Plan data acquisitions with experimentalists who conduct them, analyse and interpret results and supervise delivery of outputs (e. g. research report, patent application) in a scientific/technology area of interest.
- Work within a project team, contributing to wider projects around key Challenges.
- Lead major contributions to outputs from research including papers, patents and both internal and external presentations.
- Support and develop others including day-to-day supervision of students or visitors in areas related to own research.
- Have supervised, staged progression to first stages of scientific independence with opportunities to further develop science and skills/experience.
- Enhance your research through collaboration with other researchers and make active contributions to exchanging ideas through your own network.
- Be able to understand, interpret, create and communicate appropriately within a research context.
- Develop search and discovery skills and techniques.
- Be supervised by a Scientist/Senior Scientist in delivery of research outputs, either in the context of a project or Challenge or as an early career development fellow.
This job description sets out the skills and experience we believe are needed to be able to do this job but, research also tells us women are much more likely than men to take this list of requirements as absolute and self-select out of the process.
If you think you can deliver this role then we want to hear from you, regardless of the boxes you did not tick.
Whilst the role requires candidates to hold a Ph D/DPhil (or equivalent), we may consider candidates who have submitted their Ph D/DPhil thesis, in which case the initial appointment will be made at £38,500 per annum (to be increased on completion of the Ph D/DPhil qualification).
In return we offer
- 25 days holidays plus bank holidays and Christmas holiday shutdown
- Generous pension scheme (employer’s contribution currently up to 18%)
- Group Life Assurance (also known as Group Life Insurance or Death in Service)
- Buying and Selling Annual Leave
- Workplace Nursery Salary Sacrifice Scheme
- Hub building with state-of-the-art laboratories
- Hybrid and flexible working
- Training and development opportunities for staff at all levels
- Bus pass discount scheme and good transport links to Oxford and surrounding areas
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Access to employee discount platform (Perkbox)
- Occupational Health and wellbeing support including Employee Assistance (24/7 support and counselling)
- Health Cash Plan
- Subsidised canteen and food outlets on campus
- Free on-site parking
- Campus location in beautiful countryside with social and sports clubs open to staff
The Franklin’s underlying aim is to produce the best science for research today, and this means resolutely embracing a diverse team, who have a wide range of experiences, skills and knowledge to push forward on the innovative work our institution delivers.
Both our work and our institution are better for it.
For further information, view our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.
We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where every applicant has an equal opportunity to showcase their talents and abilities.
This includes making adjustments for candidates with specific needs.
Please contact us at recruitment@rfi. ac. uk to discuss your requirements confidentially.
At the Rosalind Franklin Institute we also welcome applications from all around the world!
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Research Associate in Topological Data Analysis for Cell Biology (10407) employer: The Rosalind Franklin Institute
The Rosalind Franklin Institute is an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative and innovative work culture that prioritises scientific advancement and employee development. Located in the picturesque countryside of Didcot, Oxfordshire, we provide generous benefits including a robust pension scheme, flexible working arrangements, and extensive training opportunities, all while fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where every team member can thrive and contribute to groundbreaking research in healthcare.
Contact Details:
The Rosalind Franklin Institute Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Research Associate in Topological Data Analysis for Cell Biology (10407)
✨Get Involved in Research Communities
Dive headfirst into the scientific research world by joining relevant communities and forums. Engage in discussions, share your insights, and even attend conferences or seminars in your field. This not only boosts your visibility but can also lead to potential job opportunities—don't forget to connect with like-minded folks!
✨Show Off Your Research Projects
Have you worked on any cool research projects? Make it easy for potential employers to see your work by creating a portfolio or a personal website. This way, when you apply for roles like the one at The Rosalind Franklin Institute, you can point them to your projects and publications, showcasing your expertise directly.
✨Utilise Professional Networks
Networking is key in scientific research. Join professional bodies or organisations related to your field. They often have job boards and resources tailored for job seekers. Make connections with professionals who may know about openings or can give you tips on landing a full-time position.
✨Keep Your Eyes on Openings & Apply Directly
Don’t just rely on job boards! Keep an eye on the careers section of the websites of companies like The Rosalind Franklin Institute. Apply directly through their website because sometimes they post jobs there before anywhere else. Plus, it shows your proactive approach!
We think you need these skills to ace Research Associate in Topological Data Analysis for Cell Biology (10407)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Research Experience:When applying for a full-time role in scientific research, make sure to emphasise your research experience prominently in your CV. Share specific projects you’ve worked on, the methodologies you used, and any significant findings. If you’ve published papers or presented at conferences, definitely include that too – it shows you’re on it in the academic world!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Research Area:Your cover letter should reflect your passion for the specific area of research at The Rosalind Franklin Institute. Mention relevant experiences that align with the organisation’s goals or projects. This shows that you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in the position – plus, it helps us see how you’d fit into the team dynamics.
Showcase Your Data Analysis Skills:In scientific research, data analysis skills are a big deal! Make sure to detail any relevant analytical tools or software you’re familiar with, like R, Python, or statistical packages. Employers are keen to know you can handle the data-heavy elements of the role, so add specific examples where you’ve used these skills effectively.
Discuss Your Future Research Goals:In your motivation section, it’s a great idea to talk about your future research goals and how they align with the work being done at The Rosalind Franklin Institute. This shows that you’re not just looking for any job, but rather a chance to contribute meaningfully to the field. We love to see applicants who are forward-thinking and enthusiastic about their research journey!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Rosalind Franklin Institute
✨Showcase Your Research Skills
In scientific research, it’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to design and conduct experiments. Come armed with examples of past projects where you've developed hypotheses, collected data, and analysed results. Be ready to discuss any specific methodologies or tools you’ve used, like PCR techniques or statistical software.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect some technical questions specific to your field. Make sure you're up to speed with recent advancements in scientific research related to the role at The Rosalind Franklin Institute. Brush up on concepts relevant to their projects and be prepared to discuss how you would approach a specific research problem or challenge they might face.
✨Know Your Publications
If you've authored or co-authored any papers, be prepared to discuss them! Highlighting your contributions to published research can really set you apart. It shows not only your expertise but also your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly, which is key in scientific research roles.
✨Exhibit Your Team Spirit
In full-time roles, collaboration is often at the heart of scientific research. Prepare examples that show how you've successfully worked in teams, dealt with conflicts, or contributed to group projects. We want to know how you can work effectively with the team at The Rosalind Franklin Institute to drive research projects forward.
