Research Assistant (Fixed Term)

We have an exciting opportunity for a Part time Research Assistant (60% of full time) to play a leading role in our awarded project from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) at the Biological Security Research Center (BSRC) led by Professor Lijun Shang. This role primarily is to conduct research on this grant which combines academic, management and administrative responsibilities.

LMU BSRC is a home for scholars from multidisciplinary subject areas who can address biosecurity issues, foster the next generation of researchers, and empower London Metropolitan University to be a centre of excellent in biosecurity research and education. The Centre has a global vision and embraces scholars from all over the world and also focus on domestic issues and is actively engaged with the policy makers and other stakeholders. The key aim of the centre is therefore to design a comprehensive global strategy on biosecurity education for life scientists, conduct biosecurity research, and engage with policy makers and general publics.

The post-holder will join LMU BSRC under the supervision of the Centre Director and other staff involved within the grant. The post-holder will play a central role in the operation and delivery of this research project. The aim of which is to build the foundations of an International Biosecurity Education Network (IBSEN) similar to the International Nuclear Security Education Network (INSEN)developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency and using some of the approaches developed by the Advisory Board for Education and Outreach (ABEO) of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. We are looking for an ambitious candidate with considerable self-initiative and a broad intellectual range.

The post-holder will be involved in conducting systematic literature searches, carrying out interviews and surveys both in person and online, analysis of data and drafting of research reports, design and production of a quarterly newsletter, and promoting the outcome of research to broad audience in the format of journal publications, reports, conference presentation, etc. However, the primary responsibility of the past-holder will be the development of the International Biological Security Education Network (IBSEN) through the production of the quarterly newsletter, increasing the number of people receiving of the newsletter and later in the grant period helping with developing a number of joint biosecurity education projects.

In addition to this you will also be required to work collectively with experienced members of the centre and broad collaborators with the centre.

The post is offered on a part-time basis for 12 months in the first instance till the end of Jan 2026 and maybe renewed subject to other funds available.

Main duties and responsibilities:
Under the supervision of the PI the main responsibilities of the post-holder will be the work on developing the IBSEN. This will involve:

- Setting achievable targets and mechanisms to achieve those targets for IBSEN;
- Developing links with other Faculties in the University and other UK Universities to engage them in the network;
- Researching and writing and producing each of the issues of the quarterly newsletter, specifically 6 newsletters on one in every 2 months basis; The topics of newsletter were set in the project;
- Building up the numbers of members of IBSEN who will receive and contribute to the newsletter;
- Be responsible for monitoring and running the IBSEN website as a central point of information of biosecurity education;
- Publicising and reporting the activities of the developing network to the States
- Parties of the BTWC, scientists, scientific organisation, the media and the general public;
- Forging links with organisations such as the WHO, OPCW, IAEA, BTWC(ISU) and national and regional scientific and educational bodies which have interest in biosecurity education;
- Investigating novel sources of funding for the further development of biosecurity education;
- Reporting on the achievement of the targets

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