Job description & person
specification
Last updated:
February 2015
JOB DESCRIPTION
Post title:
Research Fellow in Computational Biophysics
Post number:
Academic Unit/Service:
Chemistry
Career pathway:
ERE
*ERE category:
Research focused
Posts responsible to:
Dr Syma Khalid
Posts responsible for:
N/A
Post base:
Office-based
Level:
4
Job purpose
To undertake research in the area of performing large-scale MD simulations of antimicrobial
peptides with bacterial and mammalian membranes.
Key accountabilities/primary responsibilities
% Time
1.
Perform molecular dynamics simulations of antimicrobial peptides with bacterial and
mammalian membranes
85%
2.
Assist with NMR experiments of antimicrobial peptides with model membranes
10&
3.
Liaise with Oxford collaborators for details of mammalian membranes.
5%
4.
5.
6.
7.
Postdoctoral Research Fellows are expected to contribute 4 hours per week to teaching or
other tasks e.g. supervision of junior research staff in Chemistry during the academic year
Internal and external relationships (including nature and purpose of relationships)
Internal: Phil Williamson in Biological Sciences (experimental collaborator)
External: Cubist Pharmaceuticals, (industrial collaborator)
External: Mark Sansom, Oxford (Computational collaborator in the area of mammalian models).
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Desirable
How to be
assessed
Criteria
Essential
Qualifications,
knowledge &
experience
PhD either already completed or
thesis being written in
computational chemistry,
biochemistry or biophysics, or
other professional qualifications
and experience
CV
Planning &
organising
Be able to effectively plan and
carry out a project in a given
timeframe and meeting desired
quality standard
CV
Problem solving
& initiative
Able to develop understanding of
complex problems as these arise
and apply in-depth knowledge to
address them
CV/interview
Management &
teamwork
Be able to demonstrate the ability
to effectively manage a given
project with minimal supervision
interview
Communicating
& influencing
Must be able to work interactively
and positively with colleagues
who work in other areas of
research etc – contributing
specialist knowledge to achieve
research outcomes.
Interview
Other skills &
behaviours
Special
requirements
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JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS
OFFICE-BASED POST
If this post is an office-based job with routine office hazards (eg: use of VDU) no further information needs to
be supplied.
NON-OFFICE BASED POST
If this post has some hazards other than routine office (eg: more than use of VDU) please complete the
analysis below.
## - HR will send a full PEHQ to all applicants for this position.
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES
Occasionally
Frequently
Constantly
(<30% of time)
(30-60% of time)
(> 60% of time)
Outside work
Extremes of temperature (eg: fridge/ furnace)
## Potential for exposure to body fluids
## Noise (greater than 80 dba - 8 hrs twa)
## Exposure to hazardous substances (eg: solvents, liquids, dust, fumes,
biohazards). Specify below:

Frequent hand washing
Ionising radiation
EQUIPMENT/TOOLS/MACHINES USED
## Food handling
## Driving university vehicles(eg: car/van/LGV/PCV)
## Use of latex gloves (prohibited unless specific clinical necessity)
## Vibrating tools (eg: strimmers, hammer drill, lawnmowers)
PHYSICAL ABILITIES
Load manual handling
Repetitive crouching/kneeling/stooping
Repetitive pulling/pushing
Repetitive lifting
Standing for prolonged periods
Repetitive climbing (ie: steps, stools, ladders, stairs)
Fine motor grips (eg: pipetting)
Gross motor grips
Repetitive reaching below shoulder height
Repetitive reaching at shoulder height
Repetitive reaching above shoulder height
PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES
Face to face contact with public
Lone working
## Shift work/night work/on call duties
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