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.

Our teams are aligned across a number of technology and life science challenges as part of our strategic focus, with scientists, technologists and software engineers working together in a multi-disciplinary and collaborative environment at our state-of-the-art research facility at Harwell in Oxfordshire. For more information on the Franklin’s Challenges click here .

The Multidimensional Imaging (MDI) Challenge team, led by Professor Angus Kirkland, leads pioneering research in advancing electron ptychography, liquid phase electron microscopy, electron spectroscopy and diffraction underpinned by a strong fundamental theoretical platform.

We are currently looking for a Research Associate to support Dr Pedrazo-Tardajos's Nanoscale Electron Spectroscopic Mapping of Antibiotic Uptake and Resistance Mechanisms project.

Role Overview

Our team of physicists, engineers, biologists, and mathematicians focuses on electron microscopy theory, methods, and technology development. The successful applicant will work on methods to visualise antibiotic uptake, probed using electron spectroscopy.

The aim of this project is to visualise and quantify the uptake of antibiotics in different biological targets under both liquid and cryo-EM conditions, using novel correlative approaches focused on multidimensional electron spectroscopy. This role forms part of a wider research effort to reduce antimicrobial resistance across scales. You will contribute to the development and optimisation of novel TEM- and SEM-based microscopy and spectroscopy workflows, including EELS, under a range of conditions and across multiple dimensions in diverse environments, including liquid and cryo. You will also support data acquisition and analysis using the first chromatic aberration corrected microscope in the UK.

As a Research Associate at the Franklin, you will bring the scientific knowledge and skills needed to deliver a specific research project within a team delivering a research program. Through this work, you will build scientific independence, develop new science and leadership skills, and establish a growing external reputation. A team of scientists will support this work, enabling opportunities for future funding applications and career development.

Applications are encouraged from candidates with experimental backgrounds in physics, material science, biophysics, structural biology or related disciplines with an interest and experience of advanced EM methods. You will have access to state-of-the-art instrumentation, including: a double aberration-corrected 300kV Cryo (S)TEM, two 300kV conventional Cryo TEMs, three Cryo Dual beam FIBs and a 300kV chromatically corrected TEM for fast in situ observations alongside advanced sample preparation and computational facilities .

Projects Keywords

Electron Spectroscopy, Antibiotic Mapping/Resistance, Liquid Phase Electron Microscopy, Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Correlative Mapping

Before submitting your application please ensure you read the Job Information Pack for full details of this role. This can be found on Franklin's career site.

This job description set outs 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 PhD/DPhil (or equivalent), we may consider candidates who have submitted their PhD/DPhil thesis, in which case the initial appointment will be made at £37,500 per annum (to be increased on completion of the PhD/DPhil qualification).

In return we offer:

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!

To be considered for this role, please submit a CV and cover letter explaining why you think you are the right person for this job. Please include information about your education and work experience.

Closing date: Please note that applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled; therefore we reserve the right to close this vacancy as soon as we attract the right amount of suitable candidates.

Applicants should refer to our Candidate Privacy Policy

Area: Scientific

Location: Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire

Type of Post: Full-Time (37.5 hours per week)

Period of appointment: Fixed-Term Contract (2 years)

Salary: From £38,500 per annum (depending on skills and experience)

Ref No: 10395