College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology Department of Cardiovascular Sciences

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1 Research Assistant College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology Department of Cardiovascular Sciences Salary Grade 6-25,504 to 29,541 per annum Open Ended Contract, subject to Fixed Term Funding. Funding is available for up to 3 years Ref: MBP00967 At Leicester we re going places. Ranked in the top 20 universities in Britain our aim is to climb further. A commitment to high quality fused with an inclusive academic culture is our hallmark and led the Times Higher Education to describe us as elite without being elitist. You will be involved in a multi-centre (Leicester, Oxford and Southampton) project funded by the EPSRC, which aims to move the study of brain blood flow control (cerebral autoregulation) into a broader framework of physiological measurement, with a personalised perspective, so that these physiological assessments can inform the diagnosis and treatment of individual patients. This will be achieved by increasing our understanding of integrated cardiovascular and cerebrovascular control, and of the diversity within and between individuals in healthy subjects and in patients following stroke and sub-arachnoid haemorrhage. You will carry out physiological measurements in control subjects and patients with acute stroke, setup databases, perform data and statistical analyses, present results in conferences and prepare manuscripts for publication. You should have a degree in human physiology, medical physics, biomedical engineering or a related subject. Previous experience with physiological measurements in a hospital environment and/or medical image analysis would be highly desirable. You will want to participate in and contribute to advances in a highly exciting and medically important research area. You will be supervised by and report to Professor Tom Robinson and Professor Ronney Panerai in the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences. The University There s never been a more exciting time to join us. At the University of Leicester we are enjoying research success on a world stage and gathering the awards and plaudits to match. A judge in a recent awards ceremony described Leicester as elite without being elitist. We are proud to be elite. But we are at least as proud to be an inclusive and progressive university. This commitment to high quality, an inclusive academic culture and belief in the synergy of teaching and

2 research are our hallmarks. We believe that teaching is inspirational when delivered by passionate scholars engaged in world-changing research that is delivered in an academic community that includes postgraduate as well as undergraduate students. Our approach to research yields great rewards. Our research impact, measured by citations per academic, is the sixth highest in the UK. Our success in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise saw Quality Related research income rise by 18% placing us firmly amongst Britain s top 20 research universities by this measure. The RAE also revealed that Leicester is home to Britain s top-rated research department Museum Studies which has the highest concentration of world class research of any department of any discipline in the UK. For a University that believes teaching and research are synergistic, it is pleasing that the National Student Survey reveals the quality of our teaching is amongst the highest in the country. Since the launch of the survey in 2006, Leicester has consistently featured amongst the top-10 universities in England for student satisfaction. The Sunday Times recently described Leicester as "top... amongst mainstream multi-faculty universities for student satisfaction". Currently a University of 23,000 students, with a turnover of 260m and 3,800 colleagues, our future is bright. Our Strategic Vision describes our plans to invest a billion pounds in our estate as we transform our campus. Already consistently ranked in the top-20 universities in Britain, by 2015 we aim to rise further to become top-10. Leicester is the most inclusive of Britain s top-20 universities with the greatest proportions of students from under-represented groups. As a group of talented individuals we are more diverse than ever and stronger for it. At Leicester we are proud of our distinct approach, our achievements and our ambitious plans. If you share our approach join us. College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology Pro-Vice-Chancellor & Head of College: Professor David Wynford-Thomas FMedSci The College s mission is to pursue the highest standards of research, education and training in biomedical and related subjects, and to apply this knowledge and expertise to enhance the quality of life and economic prosperity of populations, both locally and in the wider world. Its considerable academic resources mean that it is widely recognised for the international impact of its research and the quality of its undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. This is reflected in the high proportion of academic staff regarded as international in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, and the consistently high ratings achieved in the National Student Survey. This is an exciting time to join a dynamic new academic enterprise and contribute to its development. The College is creating the academic and physical environment to enable scientists and clinicians to work together across traditional boundaries to address some of the key outstanding questions in biomedical research and to engage with increasing effectiveness with commercial and public bodies. The College brings together 10 academic departments: Biochemistry, Biology, Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, Cardiovascular Sciences, Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, Genetics, Health Sciences, Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Medical and Social Care Education and Psychology; and the non-departmental Diabetes Research Centre. Valuable academic benefits derive from close collaboration with the MRC Toxicology Unit, housed in a building linked to those of the College. Building on existing strengths, multi-disciplinary research themes have been developed to exploit synergies between basic science, clinical medicine and psychology in the College. These themes are in the fields of genome science; molecular & cellular bioscience; cancer; cardiovascular sciences; University of Leicester 2 12 November 2013

3 respiratory science; microbial science; neuroscience and behaviour; population science; and diabetes and metabolic medicine. A further theme is exploring the research which underpins teaching & learning. ( The College s central provision in support of research and teaching includes a Core Biotechnology Service (covering bioinformatics, imaging technologies and protein and DNA facilities); a Central Technical Service (supporting teaching laboratories) and a Clinical Trials Unit. The University has recently opened a Central Research Facility accommodating new medical research technologies and housing in the best conditions the animals - mostly rats and mice - used for medical research. The College has approximately 295 academic staff and 718 research, administrative and other staff, with a total of approximately 2,350 fte undergraduate students and 850 postgraduates. It has an annual turnover of 64M. Department of Cardiovascular Sciences Head: Professor N J Samani BSc, MD, FRCP, FACC, FMedSci, DL Cardiovascular research has been a major strength of the Leicester Medical School since its inception. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), 95% of the cardiovascular research in Leicester was considered to be of international level, over half the submitted outputs ranked as outstanding or excellent and one in seven of the submitted research outputs ranked as worldleading. The Department of Cardiovascular Sciences undertakes research ranging from molecular and cellular studies, all the way through translational research and into clinical studies. The strong links with the NHS were highlighted in the RAE. This has been further recognised by the award of a National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Unit (BRU) in Cardiovascular Disease to a partnership of the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) and the University of Leicester, which has recently been renewed for a further 5 years from April In addition the Department oversees an NIHR Clinical Research Networks in Stroke (Clinical Lead: Professor T G Robinson). The Department has strong links with the British Heart Foundation. It holds two BHF Chairs: one in Cardiology (Professor NJ Samani) and one in Cardiac Surgery (Professor G Murphy). In addition the BHF have been the major sponsor of the new 12.5 million BHF Cardiovascular Research Centre in Glenfield Hospital. Major areas of research in the Department include: cardiovascular genetics, vascular biology, hypertension and vascular damage, thrombosis and haemostasis, coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke and baroreceptor regulation, cardiac arrhythmias, carotid and peripheral vascular disease, myocardial protection and regeneration, biomarkers and diagnostics. The Department is organised into three principal Research Themes to mirror cardiovascular subthemes in the College. These are: Cardiovascular Genomics and Proteomics (Academic members: Professor NJ Samani, Professor L Ng, Dr M Tomaszewski, Mr M Bown, Dr D Jones,, Dr D Lodwick, Dr M Tomaszewski, Dr T Webb, Dr M Musameh, Dr E Stringer, Dr V Codd) Cardiovascular Cell Biology and Signalling and Cell Biology (Professor A Goodall, Professor N Brindle, Professor D Lambert, Dr C Erridge, Dr K Herbert, Dr R Rainbow, Dr J Thompson, Dr G Rodrigo) Cardiovascular Physiology and Clinical Trials (Professor T Robinson, Professor G Murphy, Professor R Naylor, Professor R Panerai, Professor R Sayers, Professor T Coats, Professor AH University of Leicester 3 12 November 2013

4 Gershlick, Professor I Squire, Professor T Spyt, Dr A Ng, Dr G McCann, Dr W Toff, Mr E Choke, Dr M Horsfield, E Chung, Dr J Davies, Dr J Kovac, Dr D Chin, Dr D Adlam) Stroke Medicine The Group has long standing research strengths in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular autoregulatory mechanisms following acute, sub-acute and chronic stroke, cardiovascular prognostic indicators following acute stroke, acute stroke blood pressure management and clinical trials, and the applications of transcranial Doppler (including assessment of cerebrovascular autoregulation and detection of microemboli). This research is funded by the National Institute of Health Research Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Clinical Trials and Research for Patient Benefit (RfPb) programmes, the Health Foundation, the Stroke Association, and the British Heart Foundation. In addition, the Group hosts the Trent (comprising NIHR Stroke Research Network Portfolio activity in South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, and including the Hyperacute Stroke Research Centres in Cambridge and Nottingham), and has a number of work streams within the National Institute of Health Research Collaborations for Applied Health Research and Care for Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland. Your Role You will be involved in a multi-centre (Leicester, Oxford and Southampton) project funded by the EPSRC, which aims to move the study of brain blood flow control (cerebral autoregulation) into a broader framework of physiological measurement, with a personalised perspective so that these physiological assessments can inform the diagnosis and treatment of individual patients. This will be achieved by increasing our understanding of integrated cardiovascular and cerebrovascular control, and of the diversity within and between individuals in healthy subjects and in patients following stroke and sub-arachnoid haemorrhage. Principal Accountabilities Plan and carry out the work programme under the guidance of the PIs and contribute to the overall research programme using innovative research models and approaches. Efficient day-to-day management of the project including recruitment of patients and control subjects, scheduling of examinations and other patient communication tasks. Perform high quality physiological measurements in stroke patients and control subjects. Manage a work schedule so as to prioritise tasks and meet changing priorities of the research programme. Contribute to writing up research findings for publication and for dissemination at scientific meetings and amongst the research team, collaborators and broader international community. Provide practical advice and guidance to research students and other members of the team. Attend team meetings and other relevant meetings. Participate in general laboratory activities to ensure the efficient functioning of the clinical lab including health and safety. Strict adherence to patient confidentiality and data security protocols. University of Leicester 4 12 November 2013

5 Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience Essential Desirable Degree in human physiology, medical physics, biomedical engineering or a related subject* Experience in physiological measurement* Experience with data and statistical analysis* Awarded or submitted PhD* Experience with obtaining consent from control subjects and/or patients Practical experience of writing reports and preparing manuscripts for publication Skills, Abilities and Competencies Essential Desirable Expertise with relevant office and other software packages Well-developed understanding of Health and Safety regulations and procedures Effective interpersonal skills High level of proficiency in English, sufficient to undertake research, teaching and administrative activities utilising English Language materials and to communicate effectively with staff and students Good oral and written communication skills Ability to work well individually and as part of a team (*Criteria to be used in shortlisting candidates for interview) Applications Informal enquiries are welcome and should be made to Professor Thompson G Robinson at tgr2@le.ac.uk and/or Professor Ronney Panerai at rp9@le.ac.uk For further information and to apply on-line, please visit our website: The closing date for this post is midnight on 10 December 2013 Candidates short-listed for interview will be contacted by the University. If you do not receive a communication from the University within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful. University of Leicester 5 12 November 2013