Further Particulars
This document includes information about the role for which you are applying and the
information you will need to provide with the application.
1. Role details
Vacancy reference:
7902
Job title:
Research Assistant (Two posts available)
Reports to:
Principle Investigator
Salary:
£32,901
Terms and conditions:
Research Staff
Grade:
AC1 INDIV
Duration of post:
36 months
Working hours:
Full time
Location:
Milton Keynes
Closing date:
13 April 2012
Type of application form accepted:
Short
Number of referees required:
Two
Unit recruitment contact:
Fiona McGavin
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2. Summary of duties
Two posts are available from October 2012 onwards for 36 months to work in the field of threat
agent detection as part of the Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN) Proton Ionisation
Molecular Mass Spectrometry (PIMMS) funded by the European Commission.
PIMMS is a multidisciplinary and intersectoral analytical chemistry ITN with the objective to
train 15 Early Stage Researchers (ESR) within a collaborative academic and commercial
challenging analytical research network involving 12 full-partners and four associate partners,
and with the aim of delivering research through five interlinking themes: Fundamental
Research and Development; Food Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Health Sciences, and
Homeland Security. The research training is focused on the conduct of internationally leading
analytical research projects which, whilst centred upon the development and adoption of
Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometry (PTR-MS) as an analytical tool, will provide
training across a wide variety of analytical technologies that are complementary to PTR-MS,
thereby providing a broad interdisciplinary and intersectoral experience in analytical chemistry.
The main objective of the project at The Open University is to develop PIMMS as an analytical
tool and to exploit PTR-MS in health sciences and environmental studies. You will be
interviewed against one of two projects:
Project 1: Fundamental and Applications of Proton Transfer Reactions using SIFT and
IMS-MS systems
This project encompasses developing the PTR-MS technique for its use in the analysis of
medically important volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by investigating their reactions with
hydronium ions in both PTR-MS and SIFT-MS.
Project 2: Emissions of biogenic VOCs, methane and N2O from plants under a changing
atmospheric composition
There is an increasing demand to develop analytical instruments to explore biogenic emissions
as markers for specific stress conditions of plants that mimic the effects of climatic change and
an anthropogenically altered tropospheric chemistry. In this project the detection of VOC
emissions and methane from plants (e.g. rice and tree saplings) will be explored both in the
field and within controlled environments in the laboratory.
3. Person specification
Essential criteria
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A Master degree in the field of physics, chemistry, engineering, or any other related
fields acquired not more than 4 years before the starting date

Good knowledge of English as you will be expected to submit project reports in
English.
4. Role specific requirements e.g. Shift working
The post holders will register for a PhD with The Open University and will have the opportunity
to undertake training and experiments at other sites within the EU Training Network.
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The Fellowship covers monthly salary for three years and other allowances in line with FP7PEOPLE-2011-ITN. The gross annual salary is at a fixed rate as specified in Section 1. For
more information: http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp7/understanding/mariecurieinbrief/home_en.html
The Post is offered in the context of a Marie Curie Initial Training Network and transnational
mobility is a key element of eligibility. As such, applications will only be accepted from
candidates who have spent less than 12 months in the UK within the last three years.
Candidates’ eligibility for the post is determined by Marie Curie terms and conditions.
5. About the unit/department
Faculty of Science
The Faculty has a staff of about 310, comprising of around 115 academic staff (central
and regional/national) with the balance made up of research staff, curriculum managers,
laboratory staff, administrators and clerical staff. There are also varying numbers of
research students and visiting academic staff.
The Faculty has three departments, each with constituent discipline groups:
Department of Environment, Earth and Ecosystems
 Earth Sciences
 Ecosystems and Biodiversity
Department of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences
 Brain & Behavioural Sciences
 Cell & Molecular Biology
 Chemistry & Analytical Sciences
 Human Biology
Department of Physical Sciences
 Astronomy
 Physics
 Planetary & Space Sciences
Science Curriculum
The Faculty currently supports a broad-based Natural Sciences programme. Within this
there are 5 undergraduate discipline-based pathways; Life Sciences, Health Sciences,
Chemistry and Analytical Science, earth and environmental sciences, and Physical
Science.
At post-graduate level, the Faculty supports an MSc programme which currently has
several strands including Science Studies, Earth Science, Frontiers in Medical Science,
and Health Physics.
The Faculty also supports foundation degrees in Health Sciences (including paramedic
and operating theatre practice) and Analytical Science.
eSTEeM (http://www.open.ac.uk/about/teaching-and-learning/esteem/ ) is an
initiative to bring together academics within Science and the Faculty of Maths,
Computing and Technology to develop new approaches to teaching and learning.
This centre builds on existing collaborations developed within the Centres for
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Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs) based at the OU and with other
Faculties, aiming to embed new approaches around priority areas such as eassessment, online experimentation, etc.
Science Research
The Faculty’s research addressed the major scientific and technological changes of our
era including:
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The causes, effects and mitigation of climate change;
The exploration of our solar system and discovery of new worlds in other solar
systems;
The search for origins of life;
The study of the causes and mitigation of a range of diseases;
Understanding the aging process;
The development of the next generation of technologies including hosting the
OU/e2v Centre for Electronic Imaging; e2v being a leading developer and
manufacturer of specialist components and sub-systems for the medical,
aerospace and defence industries
Our research is organised through two major research groupings:
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The Centre for Earth, Planetary, Space and Astronomical Research (CEPSAR)
Biomedical Research Network (BRN)
Our research encompasses both 'blue-skies' basic research and applied research to
find solutions to specific scientific and technological problems. In addition, the Faculty of
Science is supporting a number of new ‘genesis’ areas where new synergies are rapidly
developing in response to external research opportunities.
We have over 4500 square metres of state-of-the-art research laboratories with major
research facilities that include:
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A facility for interdisciplinary research in ecosystems and geobiology.
One of Europe’s leading centres for isotope mass spectrometry including
extensive radiogenic, noble gas and stable isotope mass spectrometry facilities
and a new £3 million microbeam facility, including a Cameca Nanosims ion
imaging system and dual beam FIB-SEM
Ultraclean spacecraft instrument testing and assembly, and for handling
planetary materials and returned extra-terrestrial samples
A state-of-the-art life sciences research facility including biological containment
laboratories, molecular genetics and DNA-sequencing laboratories
Environmental and transmission electron microscopy
Hypervelocity Impact laboratory
Well-equipped laboratories for research in atomic, molecular and plasma
research
Further information on the Faculty can be found on our website at
http://www8.open.ac.uk/science/main/.
6. How to obtain more information about the role or application process
If you would like to discuss the particulars of this role before making an application please
contact Professor Nigel Mason on +44 (0)1908 355253 or email n.j.mason@open.ac.uk.
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If you have any questions regarding the application process please contact Fiona McGavin on
+44 (0)1908 858110 or email science-recruitment@open.ac.uk.
7. The application process and where to send completed applications
Please ensure that your application reaches the University by: 13 April 2012
Post it to:
Name/Job title:
Fiona McGavin, Recruitment Co-ordinator
Department/Unit: Faculty of Science
Address:
Faculty of Science
The Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
Post Code:
MK7 6AA
Or e-mail your application to: science-recruitment@open.ac.uk
8. Selection process and date of interview
The interview panel will be chaired by Professor Nigel Mason. The other members of the
interview panel will be Dr Claire Turner and Dr Vince Gauci.
We will let you know as soon as possible after the closing date whether you have been
shortlisted for interview. Further details on the selection process will also be sent to
shortlisted candidates.
Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
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