Job Description

Applications are invited for a Research Scientist in Microbial Metagenomics to join the Microbes in the Food Chain Programme at [Employer hidden] (QIB), based in Norwich, UK.

Background: An exciting opportunity is available for a Research Scientist to progress a project funded by Innovate UK that will generate further evidence and knowledge on the clinical application and resistance profiles of novel antimicrobials. This project involves industrial and clinical partners in the UK and China. The outcome of the project is to provide a high-resolution genetic understanding of the impacts of the novel antimicrobials in a high-throughput culture and genome sequencing experimental system (TraDIS). In addition, there will be opportunity to review the implementation of a clinical metagenomic workflow already in place in the project that seeks to detect infections that the novel antimicrobials will seek to treat.

The role: The Research Scientist will lead the TraDIS-based investigation of the project's novel antimicrobials using mutant libraries created at Quadram, while participating in further project objectives related the parallel detection of infections. The Scientist will have and be able to further develop an ability to collaborate and coordinate with our research groups participating in these studies, and an ability to liaise with external partners under the mentorship of project group leaders.

The ideal candidate: The ideal candidate will have PhD in a biological science subject e.g. Microbiology, Molecular Genetics, Bioinformatics, or Biochemistry. They will have experience in testing and elucidating the bacterial responses to stresses such as antimicrobials using genetic and microbiology experimental systems, such as through saturating transposon mutagenesis. The candidate will also have knowledge and experience with contemporary high-throughput genomic sequencing technologies.

Additional Information

Salary on appointment will be within the range £32,255 to £39,345 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time post for a contract of 12 months.

Further information and details of how to apply can be found here or contact the Human Resources team on [contact hidden] or [contact hidden] quoting reference 1004076.

Interviews will be held on 6 July 2021.

About the 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.