Research Assistant reference: 0472-25

About the University of Sunderland 

The University of Sunderland offers life-changing opportunities for 27,500 students across its campuses in Sunderland, London, Hong Kong, and through global partnerships with learning institutions in 19 countries. We're proud to be a top 30 UK university (Guardian University Guide 2024), with top-quality facilities, inclusive culture, and our vibrant, ever-changing city.

The University of Sunderland is in an exciting phase of its development with a new vision and redefined strategic ambitions designed to take advantage of the ever-changing higher education landscape at home and overseas. 

About the role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated early-career researcher to join the Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing as part of a cross-disciplinary project investigating drug resistance in liver cancer.

The project focuses on how selective inhibition of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) can reverse resistance to kinase-targeted therapies in hepatocellular carcinoma by disrupting key cellular stress adaptation mechanisms, including autophagy.

You will join a collaborative cancer and pharmacology research environment with access to state-of-the-art facilities in the John Dawson Drug Discovery and Development Research Institute.

This is an excellent opportunity to develop strong experimental skills and contribute to medical research.

Please note that this is a full time, fixed-term position for 3 months.

What You Can Bring We are seeking a Research Assistant with strong practical experience in molecular and cell biology techniques supporting cancer research.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on capability in mammalian cell culture and methods such as western blotting, with the ability to follow complex experimental protocols accurately and maintain high data integrity standards.

Experience or clear understanding of autophagy/apoptosis assays, flow cytometry, protein interaction, or drug response studies will be highly advantageous.

We are looking for someone who has experience of working in a research environment, including data analysis, interpretation and report writing.

The role requires strong communication and organisation skills, and a commitment to delivering high-quality, reproducible results.

What we can offer you 

Our University is not just a place of academic excellence, but also a community that embraces inclusivity and support. We value our staff and offer a rewarding package that goes beyond just salary. At the University of Sunderland, we prioritise not only your professional growth but also your happiness and well-being.

Enjoy a generous annual leave entitlement of 31 days, along with an additional 5 closure days over the Christmas break and 8 Bank Holidays. Enrolment into our pension scheme, ensuring your financial security for the future. Access to our “My Lifestyle Benefits Platform”, where you can enjoy online discounts at hundreds of retailers every day. Plus, take advantage of exclusive schemes that allow you to purchase a new car, bike, or technology at a discounted rate. Your health and well-being are important to us. That's why we provide access to discounted private medical insurance, health cash plans, and guidance on financial well-being.Maintaining an active lifestyle is made easy with discounted membership for CitySpace Fitness, our state-of-the-art facility for sports and social activities. 

Equality, diversity & inclusion 

We strongly believe that an inclusive university, where a diverse range of individuals feel valued and have equal opportunity to get into work and reach their potential, is good for our staff, students, university, and society.

Our work on equality, diversity and inclusivity has never been more important. We believe inclusivity is an essential value at the heart of what we do, and we want all our staff to be part of that journey with us.

Our recent staff survey conducted in 2023 showed that 97% of our staff believed that we were committed to achieving an inclusive university.

The closing date for applications is Friday 9th January 2026 (23.59 GMT). 

Please note that applications are only accepted via the University of Sunderland's job portal, we do not accept CVs as part of the process.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Dr David Hill, email [email protected].

Closing Date: 14 Jan 2026

Team: Research

Salary: £27,855 to £30,343