The Rosalind Franklin Institute

www.rfi.ac.uk/discover-lea...

A colourful pipe cleaner model of a neuron showing labelled parts. Green and white loops at the top represent dendrites branching from the cell body. A twisted multicoloured stem represents the axon extending downward. Pink and white pipe cleaner shapes at the bottom depict the axon terminals. Yellow arrows point to each part with labels: ‘Dendrites,’ ‘Cell body,’ ‘Axon,’ and ‘Axon terminals.’

It’s British Science Week!
This year’s theme is Curiosity: What’s your question?
Why not start by asking: How does my brain send messages?
Build your own neuron from pipe cleaners and explore how your amazing body works. Or discover more science at home activities on our website.

Three colleagues sit around a meeting table with laptops in a bright office, seen through a circular frame. The design includes teal and grey branding with The Rosalind Franklin Institute logo and the text “We’re Hiring – Finance Assistant,” with arrow graphics at the bottom.

We’re hiring a Finance Assistant!

Be the backbone of our daily operations, keeping records accurate so our scientists can focus on research. Work collaboratively across operations and science teams, with room to grow in the position.

Bring your can-do attitude and apply today! tinyurl.com/ubtc3hef

Scientist in a white lab coat adjusting tubing inside an instrument in a laboratory. Purple graphic overlay with the text “We Are Hiring,” the website www.rfi.ac.uk, and The Rosalind Franklin Institute logo.

🔬 We’re hiring a Research Associate in Chemical Proteomics.

Develop cutting-edge MS methods, study complex proteomes, and collaborate across research & our Proteomics Core. Build independence, leadership skills & your scientific profile.

Apply now: opportunities.rfi.ac.uk/vacancy/rese...

Two researchers in lab coats working at a computer workstation with scientific imaging equipment, alongside text reading ‘We Are Hiring’ from The Rosalind Franklin Institute.

🔬We’re hiring a Research Assistant at the Rosalind Franklin Institute to support cutting-edge research in cell–cell interactions using human gut organoids.
Work with CRISPR, advanced cell culture & super-resolution imaging in a collaborative lab.
Apply now! opportunities.rfi.ac.uk/vacancy/rese...

We had a fantastic time at the festival of tomorrow over the weekend. Thanks to everyone who came to have a chat with us about llamas vs viruses!
#festivaloftomorrow
@festivaloftomorrow.bsky.social

A huge well‑done to Sheera Abdulla and Mellisa Govender‑Kirkpatrick, who have been working hard to make small but meaningful changes within out labs, from optimising freezer management and sourcing locally to introducing practical, everyday behavioural improvements.

Mellisa and Sheera stand side by side in a lab corridor, wearing white lab coats and safety glasses and holding their LEAF certificates. To the right is a window, and behind them colleagues move through an open, laboratory space.

We’re proud to celebrate two major sustainability milestones at the Franklin.
Our Biology Lab has achieved Gold LEAF certification, and our Chemistry Lab has earned Bronze!

Read more: www.rfi.ac.uk/latest/celeb...

Read their full Researcher Spotlight: www.rfi.ac.uk/latest/resea...
@rsb.org.uk #researcherspotlight

Through the application process, they discovered just how much their work has helped them build confidence, resilience, and a wide range of transferable skills.
This professional recognition highlights their commitment to high‑quality science and continued development at the Franklin.

Researcher Spotlight: Kelly Parker and Hannah Campaigne
From supporting nanobody development at the Franklin to reflecting on the skills that shape them as scientists, Research Assistants Hannah and Kelly have each achieved Registered Scientist (RSci) accreditation from the Royal Society of Biology.

Staff member working at a desk on a laptop, alongside text reading ‘We’re Hiring – Health, Safety, Environment & Compliance (HSEC) Coordinator’ from The Rosalind Franklin Institute.

📢 Just a reminder: We're hiring a 𝗛𝗦𝗘𝗖 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿!

There’s still time to apply for our HSEC Coordinator role at The Franklin. If you’re passionate about supporting people and building a strong Health, Safety, Environment and Compliance culture, we’d love to hear from you.

👉 tinyurl.com/64m57e8c

Find out more about our 4 year, fully funded scheme here: www.rfi.ac.uk/careers-stud...

A promotional graphic from The Rosalind Franklin Institute titled “Upcoming Career Fairs.” It lists three events in turquoise boxes with dark navy date labels. Loughborough University – Spring Careers Fair: Tuesday, February 17 at 11 a.m. University of Reading – Science, Health and Environment Fair: Wednesday, February 25 at 12 p.m. University of Oxford – Crankstart Careers Fair: Friday, March 6 at 11:30 a.m. Decorative arrow patterns appear in the background.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be attending careers fairs at:
@lborouniversity.bsky.social
@uniofreading.bsky.social
@ox.ac.uk
If you're thinking about a future in research, come and chat with us about our PhD Programme - applications for this year's cohort close on 2nd March!

WRFM Local Radio for Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds Truly Local Radio for Oxfordshire and the Cotswold 90.2 to 107.4 Fm - DAB - Online

📻 Listen out for @mdarrow.bsky.social, our Quantitative Biology Across Scales Lead, who will be discussing her placental imaging work on WRFM Science on the Radio on tomorrow (Saturday 14th February) at 10 am on FM 90.2 – 107.4, you can also online at

Held across Swindon from 9th to 21st February, the Festival brings together the best shows, panels, installations, workshops, exhibitions and more from the worlds of science, innovation and the arts world for a programme full of fun, inspiration and exploration.

Find us at the Festival of Tomorrow 2026!
We are exhibiting at The Deanery Academy, in Wichelstowe, for the Festival Finale on 20th and 21st February.
Come say hello!

Book your tickets now: www.festivaloftomorrow.com
#FestivalOfTomorrow

Three colleagues seated at a meeting table with laptops, alongside text reading ‘We’re Hiring – Research Grants Manager (Maternity Cover minimum 12 months)’ from The Rosalind Franklin Institute.

🚨 Final call – applications close Sunday!

We’re hiring an experienced 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 to support the full lifecycle of research funding and help deliver world-class science. Flexible working and secondments considered.

For further details and to apply: tinyurl.com/5n6nkayn

You will hear more from Hannah and Kelly in an upcoming researcher spotlight.
#WomeninSTEM

Today we are marking the International Day of Women and Girls in Science by celebrating the incredible scientists at the Rosalind Franklin Institute.

Hear from two of our research assistants who have recently earned their Registered Scientist accreditation.

Read the full spotlight here: www.rfi.ac.uk/latest/resea...

#researcherspotlight
@ox.ac.uk @kiroxford.bsky.social

Researcher spotlight: Narain Karedla

From contributing to collaborative research to launching his own independent project, Narain is beginning the next stage of his career with a new ERC starting grant.
Hear Narain discuss his new research focus and what it means for the next phase of his career.

This milestone celebrates what’s already been achieved together, and looks ahead to what’s possible when national research infrastructures work side by side.
Read more: tinyurl.com/58t85tuw

Strong science is built on strong partnerships.
@diamondlightsource.bsky.social and the Franklin have formally recognised a collaboration that has grown organically over many years - rooted in shared expertise, co‑located facilities, and a joint commitment to advancing life‑science technologies.

Don't miss "Cold argon plasmas for non-enzymatic digestion of macromolecules" by Daniel McGill, Daniel Simon, Siva Ramadurai, Felicia Green and Zoltan Takats

Featured #OnTheCover of issue 9

Read the full communication here 👉 buff.ly/yrKB99b

A meeting room with several people seated around a large table, laptops and documents in front of them. Bright natural light comes through a large window, and a whiteboard is visible on the wall. On the right side of the image, a turquoise graphic displays The Rosalind Franklin Institute logo and the text: “WE’RE HIRING – Health, Safety, Environment & Compliance Coordinator,” with a row of arrows underneath.

📢 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗛𝗦𝗘𝗖 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿

As The Franklin grows, we’re looking for someone passionate about supporting our people and strengthening our Health, Safety, Environment and Compliance culture.

Join us and help make a real difference across the Institute: tinyurl.com/64m57e8c

#hiring #career

Read the full story here - www.rfi.ac.uk/latest/captu...

“AntigenApp helped us to automate previously time-consuming tasks freeing up time and speeding up we how do things. The development of AntigenApp was a real team effort, working with the ARC team was critical to the success of this project,” said Dr Lauren Eyssen, Nanobodies staff scientist.

This project utilised new software which supported the entire nanobody generation pipeline. Known as AntigenApp, it was developed by the Franklin Nanobody and Advanced Research Computing teams working closely together and they hope AntigenApp will be useful to the wider scientific community.

The group of researchers identified a high affinity nanobody that bound to the parasite enzyme and not to closely related human enzymes. By fixing the enzyme in a specific three dimensional shape, the nanobody enabled the team to determine the first crystal structure of SmCD1.