GTA Roles - MSc Dev PP 2024-25

For current University students ONLY

About Queen Mary

At Queen Mary University of London, we believe that a diversity of ideas helps us achieve the previously unthinkable.

Throughout our history, we?ve fostered social justice and improved lives through academic excellence. And we continue to live and breathe this spirit today, not because it?s simply ?the right thing to do? but for what it helps us achieve and the intellectual brilliance it delivers.

Queen Mary?s commitment to our diverse and inclusive community is embedded in our appointments processes. Reasonable adjustments will be made at each stage of the recruitment process for any candidate with a disability. To support students to participate in this internship, we are able to provide some support towards travel and accommodation.

Have you ever wondered what a research career is like? Do you have questions about cancer diagnosis and how we can make things better for patients? We are looking for an undergraduate student to take part in an NIHR Undergraduate Internship summer 2025.

The internship will take place within the MODE Study (Non-cancer diagnoses and their potential for missed opportunities in symptomatic cancer diagnosis: a mixed methods study) team at Queen Mary University of London. The MODE study is using qualitative and quantitative methods to understand when non-cancer diagnoses (?interim diagnoses?) before a cancer diagnosis, represent missed opportunities to diagnose cancer.

The successful candidate will be involved in the planning, preparation and running of a stakeholder event which aims to identify targets for future interventions for reducing delays in cancer diagnosis. This could include: contributing to data analysis, working with patient and public representatives to create and test accessible summaries of the study findings, and supporting discussions at the event. 

You will be working closely with a team of researchers, clinicians and people with lived experience, as well as meeting with a range of experts at the event. Training and mentorship will be provided in the relevant skills required to complete these projects. This will be an excellent opportunity to gain research and science communication experience, build your professional network, and contribute to a significant area of research and public health. 

The internship position will last 8 weeks, and will be expected to take place between July and September 2025.

Learning objectives for the role

Research skills and insights:

• Qualitative data analysis
• Mixed-methods evidence synthesis
• Academic paper writing
• Incorporating patient and public perspectives into research 
• How research is translated into impact

Transferable skills:

• Communicating complex information to a broad audience, including researchers, clinicians and members of the public
• Gathering views and reaching consensus across a range of stakeholder groups

Main duties and responsibilities of the role

• To collaborate with project leads on planning, preparing and running an event to develop ideas for reducing missed opportunities in cancer diagnoses in primary care.
• To assist in data analysis and evidence synthesis.
• To contribute to the preparation of audio, video or written summaries of the research findings.

Must be a currently enrolled undergraduate student with at least one year of study remaining.

Essential:

• Must be a currently enrolled undergraduate student with at least one year of study remaining.
• Interest in cancer diagnosis and/or primary care. 
• Enthusiasm for learning and willingness to take on new challenges
• Comfortable using common software tools, such as Microsoft Office
• Experience of managing a varied workload and meeting tight deadlines
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team

Desirable:

• Understanding of qualitative research and analysis
• Experience in report writing, writing for publication, or other science communication

The applicant will support an educational research project in the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences. The research involves analysing data collected from a dashboard including teacher feedback, student feedback and self-reflections.

The role includes conducting thematic analyses and working with quantitative data. The successful candidate will be supported in developing their qualitative and quantitative research skills through guidance towards self-directed learning resources and ad-hoc training to enhance their expertise. 

The Research Assistant will contribute to generating meaningful insights to inform educational practices, particularly in assessment and feedback.

Key responsibilities:

1. Clean, process and manage datasets from multiple excel sources for analysis.
2. Provide quantitative and qualitative research support.
3. Assist in conducting thematic analyses to identify themes from qualitative data.
4. Perform quantitative analysis of student grade performance.
5. Participate in discussions, communicating and presenting research at meetings.
6. Contribute to writing reports, presentations and academic publications.

A third-year undergraduate student or above in any subject area.

Desirable skills: 

1. Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods and techniques 
2. Some understanding of thematic analysis and experience in working with large datasets. 

Required skills:

1. Basic knowledge of excel.
2. Ability to work independently and collaboratively remotely.
3. Ability to manage tasks and deliver results under tight deadlines.
4. Strong work ethic, commitment to data accuracy.
5. Ability to work with limited supervision.

The Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences is seeking to recruit a technician. This key Professional Services role will support the Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, one of three research Centres within the Faculty.

The Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology is one of the leading centres for Craniofacial Biology worldwide with research focusing on craniofacial and stem cell biology, innovative approaches to regeneration and repair and big data approaches to understand the complexity of development and disease. Our research spans basic, clinical and translational sciences. It offers a vibrant, collaborative, and interactive research and teaching environment in the heart of London.

The primary purpose of this role will be to provide molecular biology support to the Centre and to help maintain the research laboratories in a clean, safe, and tidy manner. Work closely with the Technical Operations Manager and the lead academics to ensure that technical support is professional, well-executed, and timely, complying with university policies and funders terms and conditions and adopting best practices.

The post holder is expected to contribute to several technical objectives, including health and safety compliance, good laboratory practice, equipment maintenance, maintenance of lab consumables stocks, waste and genotyping service and ordering. The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic and motivated team player who works well with a technical team, is willing to explore new innovative approaches, and is committed to continued personal development.

Technical Support

• Responsible for providing a range of molecular biology services, such as Genotyping, where there are established standards and requirements. 
• To provide colleagues with advice and guidance as required
• The postholder will maintain stocks of consumables in the research Laboratories.
• The postholder will begin to undertake additional responsibilities as determined by the operations manager and to demonstrate job based acquired knowledge to enable more in-depth laboratory support.
• Provide a range of technical support, normally following an established pattern, with limited supervision, and with a clearly defined objective, both following established guidance and procedures and applying knowledge and skills.
• To be responsive to changing priorities and an evolving environment/context, maximising the efficiency of the technical support being provided and resolving problems as they arise
• Assist others in managing and prioritising day-to-day work to meet agreed objectives
• Resource management: install, monitor and maintain technical equipment, systems and software, with control over small budgets, stocks/ stores equipment and supplies 
• Engage in appropriate professional activities to keep knowledge-base and skills up-to-date and to develop them further. 
• Maintain local facilities and operations, ensuring efficient use of resources and undertaking purchasing/receipt of goods, equipment maintenance (personally, or through a service contractor) and wider facilities maintenance as required
• Resolve problems as they are arise and put things in place to minimise future, foreseeable problems
• To be responsive to changing priorities and an evolving environment/context, maximising the efficiency of the technical support being provided and resolving problems as they arise
• Keep up to date with all mandatory training, including local Health and Safety policies and procedures.
• To forge relationships with colleagues in the Centre, Faculty, and university, to deliver the required support as well as to contribute to process development and the adoption of best practice.
• Actively engage with the Centre and Faculty?s contribution to the King?s Vision 2029 and Research/Education strategy
• To actively engage in Continuing Professional Development and training initiatives, in line with the Technician Commitment.

There is a potential that the post will be extended or become permanent. 

Minimum level 4 qualification, e.g., higher apprenticeship, HNC or other Level 4 award, plus work experience in relevant technical/scientific posts OR Considerable knowledge and skills gained through work experience in relevant technical or scientific posts.

• Methodical approach to work with good attention to detail, focused on solution and ability to trouble-shoot laboratory problems.
• Experience and understanding of health and safety issues within a laboratory Competent computer skills including Microsoft Office packages
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and independently to identify and address operational issues.
• Good time management and organisational skills. 
• Good communication skills- orally and in writing, 
• Willingness to learn new techniques, follow instructions and apply learnt techniques/ skills to the work context.
• Some experience in running and optimising PCR.