Research Scientist

🔒 Confidential Employer
Posted 3 May 2026
LOCATION
Norwich
TYPE
Full-time
LEVEL
Mid-Senior level
SALARY
£39,938 / year
CATEGORY
Science & Research
This employer holds a UK Home Office sponsor license — sponsorship for this specific role is at the employer’s discretion

SKILLS

Microbiology Cell Biology Cell Culture Immunoassays Anaerobic Gut Bacteria In Vitro Assays Probiotic Functionality Food Fermentation

FULL DESCRIPTION

Research Scientist

[Employer hidden — view at passion-project.co.uk] is hiring a Research Scientist to join the Laboratory of Prof Narbad in the Food Innovation and Health programme at [Employer hidden] (QIB), based in Norwich, UK.

  • Applications Close: 30 September 2021
  • Salary: £32,578 - £39,938 per annum
  • Contract Length: 6 months
  • Full-time post

Background

The Narbad group is working on the role of food and gut commensals on health and disease in humans and animals. We have particular interest in fermented foods and isolation and characterisation of gut commensal bacteria for use as probiotics for biocontrol of gut pathogens. Mechanisms of competitive exclusion phenomena are being investigated with the objective of designing next generation SMART probiotics with improved functionality. Application of bacteriotherapy and identification and characterisation of novel antimicrobials, including bacteriophage endolysins that target gut pathogens (such as Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens) and the impact of these biomolecules on the gut microbial communities is another area of active research within the group.

The Role

The successful candidate will join a team working in the area gut commensal microbiota and the biocontrol of pathogens. The post-holder will work on lactic acid bacterial strains that play a role in fermentation of food. They will screen and establish possible probiotic functionality of these strains using a number of different in vitro assays.

The Ideal Candidate

Candidates will have PhD in microbiology or cell biology and have experience of using cell culture and immunoassays. Ability to handle anaerobic gut bacteria would be desirable.

Additional Information

Salary on appointment will be within the range £32,578 to £39,938 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time post for a contract of 6 months.

How to Apply

Further information and details of how to apply can be found at https://jobs.quadram.ac.uk/Details.asp?vacancyID=16542 or contact the Human Resources team on [contact hidden] or [contact hidden] quoting reference 1004117.

About Quadram Institute

The Quadram Institute is a new interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to understanding how food and microbes interact to promote health and prevent disease. Its mission is to deliver healthier lives through innovation in gut health, microbiology and food. A partnership between [Employer hidden], the University of East Anglia, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and BBSRC, it brings together scientists and clinicians in a state-of-the-art building on the Norwich Research Park. This is one of Europe’s largest centres of life sciences and home of the John Innes Centre and The Earlham Institute.

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