Research Fellow

This position is based within the research group of Professor Melanie Madhani in the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Birmingham. The post will focus on identifying and developing novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of hypertension.

This post would be ideally suited to a recently qualified PhD graduate or postdoctoral researcher with relevant cardiovascular experience and knowledge, including experience working with patient-derived blood and adipose tissue samples. Applicants should have a strong understanding of cardiovascular physiology, together with a broad background in ex vivo vascular functional pharmacology, including experience with vascular reactivity studies and wire myography. Expertise in redox biochemistry and metabolism would be highly desirable, particularly in relation to vascular signalling and cardiovascular disease.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary cardiovascular research environment, applying complementary physiological, biochemical and molecular approaches to investigate novel mechanisms and therapeutic targets in hypertension.

Main Duties:

- Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
- Contribute to writing bids for research funding
- Analyse and interpret data
- Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
- Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
- Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to MRes/PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
- Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
- Undertake management/administration arising from research
- Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
- Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
- Collect research data through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews
- Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
- Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
- Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
- Foster a fair and equitable workplace for all staff
- Identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant university policies and procedures

Person Specification:

- A PhD (or near completion) in Cardiovascular Sciences, cardiovascular physiology, pharmacology, or a related discipline, or equivalent PhD level qualifications
- First degree in biological or medical science
- High level analytical capability, with the ability to interpret and critically evaluate complex experimental data
- Ability to communicate complex information clearly
- Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones; including handling and processing patient-derived blood and adipose tissue samples for cardiovascular research, ex vivo vascular functional pharmacology, including vascular reactivity studies and wire myography
- Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
- Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
- Ability to contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
- Ability to co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
- Knowledge of the protected characteristics and duties under the Equality Act 2010, including fostering good relations and advancing the university's Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED)

Informal enquiries to Professor Melanie Madhani: [email protected]