University of Edinburgh
Research Assistant
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UE06: £34,610- £39,906 per annum
CMVM / R(D)SVS / The Roslin Institute
Full Time: 35 hours per week
Fixed Term: 9 months
The Opportunity:
Your next step starts here. Be part of something bigger.
With roles from hospitality to research, there’s a career for everyone at the University of Edinburgh. We can offer opportunities for you to develop in your career and make a real difference in the communities around us while contributing to the world at large.
We are inviting applications for a Research Assistant position to undertake an Engineering Biology project entitled “Engineering genetically tractable induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived models to dissect susceptibility and resilience to Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus.” funded by the Roslin Foundation.
The project is jointly led by Drs Tom Burdon and Finn Grey at The Roslin Institute and Dr James Kelly at The Pirbright Institute. The post will be held at The Roslin Institute and will entail developing new pig iPSC differentiation methodologies to produce cell types suitable for studying how host genetics regulates Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus. The Burdon group has established expertise in livestock pluripotent stem cell biology and genome engineering, including development of edited pig iPSC lines suitable for efficient genetic manipulation and directed differentiation. Dr Grey and Kelly have an established ongoing collaboration investigating FMDV host resilience factors.
Successful applicants will have a strong scientific background in areas such as developmental/stem cell biology, and work closely with the Roslin and Pirbright teams. Applicants must be highly motivated, self-driven, and able to work both independently and collaboratively. Applicants will have an honours degree in stem cell/developmental biology or closely related area of biological science. Experience in stem cell differentiation is highly relevant for the project.
The post is from October 1st 2026 on a 9-month full time fixed-term contract. Given the short duration of the contract, flexible working or hybrid working arrangements are not possible.
View the full job description [https://uoe.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/jobdescriptionlibrary/IQB0FocBJPvERpff_O23fsw6AcmIxukMOqAVmk9JdGhDmX8]
How to apply
Please include the following documents in your application:
- CV
- Cover letter
For more information on our lab activities please visit:
https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/tom-burdon [https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/tom-burdon]
https://edwebprofiles.ed.ac.uk/profile/finn-grey [https://edwebprofiles.ed.ac.uk/profile/finn-grey]
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Picornavirus Tropism | Research group | The Pirbright Institute [https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pirbright.ac.uk%2Four-science%2Fresearch-groups%2Fpicornavirus-tropism&data=05%7C02%7C%7C6196aa1be787490daddc08deecb231da%7C2e9f06b016694589878910a06934dc61%7C0%7C0%7C639208447261842172%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=wx3pqByTpd0T9bkWuBnuJYVXCGFRO7DnsKGPhCwsqcM%3D&reserved=0]
For informal enquiries please contact Tom Burdon (tom.burdon@roslin.ed.ac.uk) or Finn Grey (finn.grey@roslin.ed.ac.uk) Please note that applications sent directly to these email addresses will not be accepted.
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
- A competitive salary.
- An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
- To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
- Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page (opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits.
Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion
The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also a Stonewall Proud Employer, actively promoting LGBTQ+ equality.
Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages (opens new browser tab)
On this occasion the University will not consider applicants requiring sponsorship for this role. International workers will therefore only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.
Key dates to note
The closing date for applications is 14 August 2026.
Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm UK time. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browser's local time zone.
About Us
As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.
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The Roslin Institute receives strategic investment from the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and provides national capability to achieve sustainable agriculture, control diseases and enhance health through pioneering animal bioscience.
The Institute is a key part of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework exercise, a joint submission by the School and Scotland’s Rural College placed first in the United Kingdom for agriculture, food and veterinary sciences.
The Institute is home to over 400 staff, students and visitors, including around 65 Group Leaders and Tenure Track Fellows on a path to independence. It has a vibrant programme https://vet.ed.ac.uk/roslin/work-study/postgraduate (opens in a new browser tab) of postgraduate research and a thriving student community.
Research at the Institute is organised across eight divisions (Quantitative Biology, Genome Biology, Functional Genetics, Translational Bioscience, Bacteriology, Virology, Immunology, and Epidemiology) and two Institute Strategic Programmes funded by the BBSRC from 2023-28 (Genes & Traits for Healthy Animals and Prevention & Control of Infectious Diseases).
Over £380M has been invested in physical infrastructure at Easter Bush since 2008, including for research on key terrestrial and aquatic farmed animals. This includes the National Avian Research Facility, a £24M Large Animal Research & Imaging Facility, Aquaculture facilities for fish and shellfish, and an Innovation Centre that is now fully occupied with commercial tenants. The campus serves as a key innovation hub for the Agri-Tech, Aquaculture and Animal Bioscience (3A) sector and Roslin has extensive partnerships with businesses, including animal breeding and pharmaceutical businesses able to translate its discoveries at global scale.
The Institute has a positive and inclusive culture and holds a prestigious Athena SWAN Gold award in recognition of its commitment to advance the careers of women in science.
Further details of the research conducted at the Institute can be found at The Roslin Institute website https://vet.ed.ac.uk/roslin (opens in a new browser tab).
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