Research Associate

About the role

The Lovell lab is looking to recruit a PDRA on a 12-month contract. 

Project Background: Targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) is an emerging and highly promising strategy for treating a range of cancers. By using targeting vectors conjugated to radionuclides, TRT delivers cytotoxic radiation directly to tumour cells while minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissues.

This project aims to identify selective peptide binders for proteins, cells, or tissues using state-of-the-art peptide display technologies. These binders will serve as initial targeting vectors in hit-to-lead optimisation programmes to develop novel radiomedicines. The work will integrate:

Phage or mRNA display

Automated solid-phase peptide synthesis

Direct-to-biology workflows

Chemical proteomics

Structural biology

Relevant References

Nat. Biotechnol. 2021, 4, 490

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 8911

J. Nucl. Med. 2025, 66, 1703

About you

• PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Biology, or a closely related discipline
• Demonstrated expertise with display technologies (e.g., phage display, mRNA display, DELs)
• Hands-on experience with solid-phase peptide synthesis
• Proficiency in HPLC, LC-MS, or LC-MS/MS method development
• Active interest in peptide drug discovery and cancer research

Additional expectations:

• Strong organisational, communication, and teamwork skills
• Ability to work independently and solve problems proactively
• Willingness to supervise and train junior lab members
• Some laboratory management responsibilities will be included

Further information

A lower grade offer may be made (Grade 6) with comparable reduction in responsibilities and amendment in job title to Research Assistant, if a suitable applicant cannot be found to fill the Grade 7 position. Applicants will need to be within six months of their course completion date and will be promoted to Research Associate once their PhD has been awarded.

For questions about the position, please contact Dr Scott Lovell at [email removed].

We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equity and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students and encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on the university. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our Safer Recruitment commitment.

We're very proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. an accredited Disability Confident Leader; autism friendly university, committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff. 

What we can offer you 

We're continually expanding our benefits package to better support you and enhance your experience with us and the below is just an example of some of the many great benefits we offer:

• Generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work life balance
• Generous employer contributory pension schemes
• Cycle to work scheme
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
• Staff discount at Team Bath gym
• Staff benefits include discounted postgraduate tuition and language courses, alongside a wide range of personal and professional development opportunities such as apprenticeships, LinkedIn Learning, and more
• Local discounts, including free entry to the Holburne Museum in Bath
• A family-friendly workplace 
• An excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce
• Relocation allowance
• Visa reimbursement and Interest-Free Loan to help with the cost of some immigration expenses
• Employee assistance services through Health Assured, including access to the Wisdom app

Find out more about our benefits and watch the video to hear from our staff about what makes the University of Bath a great place to work as well as following us X and LinkedIn.

Be Well at Bath

We’re committed to creating a health-supporting working environment where everyone can thrive and be at their best. We offer a range of resources to enable you to do that from your first day here, including:

• Staff support groups and networks
• A network of Staff Wellbeing Champions
• A suite of tools, resources and frameworks that enable you to be at your best and thrive

Find out more about being at your best at Bath.

Closing Date: 20 Oct 2026

Department: Education & Research

Salary: £38,784 to £46,049