Overview
Area: Injury, Recovery and Inflammation
Location: UK Other
Salary: £31,637 to £35,116 per annum pro-rata depending on skills and experience. Salary progression beyond this scale is subject to performance.
Closing Date: Monday 20 October 2025
Reference: MED233625
Job Title: Research Assistant
School: School of Medicine
Contract: Fixed-term post
About the role
Applications are invited for a motivated Research Assistant to join the School of Medicine and support an exciting study led by Dr Natalie Shur “Investigating Mechanisms of Knee Pain Improvement in Individuals with Obesity Undergoing Weight Loss: A Pilot Study on Radiological, Metabolic, and Intra-Articular Microenvironment Change”.
This project, funded by the BMA Foundation, Doris Hillier Grant, aims to investigate the mechanisms by which weight loss improves knee pain in individuals with obesity recently prescribed glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. The study will investigate changes in knee pain and function longitudinally in patients undergoing weight loss, as well as knee cartilage thickness and strain using MRI, inflammatory biomarkers, and the synovial fluid microenvironment in a subgroup of individuals. It will utilise advanced imaging techniques, metabolic assessment, and proteomic analysis. By studying both biomechanical and metabolic processes, this research will provide new insights into the mechanisms driving pain relief and may inform future non-surgical treatment strategies for knee osteoarthritis.
Responsibilities
* Longitudinal data collection via online survey
* Recruiting participants and running study visits including acquisition of imaging and assistance with biological sample collection
* Managing data with accuracy and integrity
* Contributing to advanced imaging analysis (MRI, MR Spectroscopy, musculoskeletal ultrasound)
* Supporting data analysis, manuscript preparation, and presentation of findings
About You
* Highly organised with excellent attention to detail
* Able to work effectively with human research participants
* Interested in musculoskeletal health, obesity, imaging, and metabolic science
* Keen to contribute to high-impact research with real clinical relevance
You must have a BSc or equivalent experience in a relevant health related discipline (physiotherapy, sport and exercise science, clinical sciences, anatomy) and be experienced in a variety of quantitative research methodologies involving human participants. Additional desirable criteria include an MSc in a related subject e.g. Sport and Exercise Medicine or working towards PhD in relevant subject area.
Interviews will take place on Wednesday, 5th November.
If you have any questions about this role, please contact Dr Natalie Shur (natalie.shur@nottingham.ac.uk). Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.
Apply Online
Further details:
* Job Description/Role Profile
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