Research Associate in Glycosylated Nanomaterials for Diagnostic Applications

The postholder will work as a Research Associate in the group of Prof Matthew Gibson in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Manchester. For more information about the Gibson group and their research interests, please visit the group website (). This role is focussed on developing and growing the teams research base in using, and targeting, glycans for diagnostics and biosensors, based upon nanoparticle platforms. For example, our team worked with industrial partners to develop one of the first COVID-19 rapid diagnostics tools which was evaluated with clinical samples. ACS Central Science, 2020, 6, 11, 2046. Key to this is the use of polymeric tethers to display viral-binding ligands. This project will be conducted as part of a well-established collaboration with Professor Rob Field (UEA and Iceni Glycoscience, Norwich, as part of the recently founded CADDA Centre (Centre for Advanced Diagnostic Development and Application) : an £8M investment from Research England, with Partners at Kent and UCL.

The GibsonGroup has world-class facilities based in both the Department of Chemistry (where this role is primarily based) and also in the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB). The Chemistry laboratories are brand new (2023) featuring dedicated write up space, fume hoods, and analytical equipment including UV-Vis, FTIR, NMR spectrometer, microscopes and liquid handling systems. For polymer analysis we have a multidetector SEC suite, as well as the departments core NMR and Mass Spec facilities. We access the UKs National Materials Institute, the Royce, which is in an adjacent building. In the MIB we have dedicated tissue culture and microbiology laboratories and a bioanalytical suite including biolayer interferometry, flow cytometry, high-content live cell microscopy and confocal microscopy. The team host a UK-unique automated glycan synthesis platform.

The GibsonGroup is a positive research environment, and the successful candidate is expected to contribute to the groups research culture, focused on teamwork.

Overall Purpose of the Job

The project will involve the synthesis and characterization of advanced glycosylated, or glycan-targeting materials and measurement of their interactions with biological targets. This will involve a range of controlled polymerization techniques, particularly RAFT. There will also be significant (bio) analytical measurements undertaken to include biolayer interferometry, for which the team has its own dedicated platform. The Research Associate will report directly to Professor Matthew I. Gibson. There will be periodic opportunities to visit academic and industrial collaborators in Norwich and the candidate must be able to travel. A strong research and publication track record is essential with demonstrated ability to lead and finish (including publishing) projects. You must have excellent communication, presentation, interpersonal and teamworking skills.

What you will get in return :

• Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
• Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
• Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
• Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
• Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers