Research Scientist (Metagenomics of antimicrobial resistance in soils)
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Research Scientist (Metagenomics of antimicrobial resistance in soils)
[Employer hidden — view at passion-project.co.uk] is seeking a Research Scientist to join the group of Professor Alison Mather.
- Salary: £33,050 to £40,750 per annum
- Contract Length: Full time, 12 months
- Applications Close: 15 June 2023
Background
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has evolved in environmental bacteria over billions of years, producing a vast reservoir of AMR genes that can potentially be transferred to clinical pathogens. Agricultural soils are exposed to antibiotics through the use of manures or sewage sludge as fertiliser, or irrigation with reclaimed water. The field scale trials undertaken at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) offer a unique opportunity to investigate the effects of antibiotic application on soil communities and AMR.
The post holder will join a fun, international and supportive group with expertise in bioinformatics, microbiology, molecular ecology and epidemiology. Working closely with collaborators at the University of Exeter and AAFC, the postholder will use state of the art metagenomic and bioinformatic approaches to determine the evolutionary effects of antibiotic residues on the soil resistome.
The role
The successful post holder will analyse and interpret shotgun metagenome sequence data and other sequence data to investigate the effects of different antibiotic residues on the soil microbial communities and AMR at three timepoints: short-term exposure (7 & 30 days after application); long-term exposure (after 10 years of annual exposure); and after cessation of antibiotic application (1, 2, and 3 years post-exposure). The post holder will lead and/or contribute to the preparation of written reports and research publications and present research findings at project meetings, scientific conferences and outreach/translation events. They will contribute to the smooth running of the group.
The ideal candidate
Candidates should have a PhD in a relevant subject (e.g. Computational Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Genetics, Bioinformatics, Epidemiology or related discipline), and experience in analysing microbial (meta)genome sequence data. The candidate must value teamwork and collaboration, be able to work independently, and have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Additional information
Salary on appointment will be within the range £33,050 to £40,750 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time post for a contract of 12 months, with an ideal start date of 1 December 2023 (flexible). For further information and details of how to apply, please visit our HR website or contact the Human Resources team on [contact hidden] or [contact hidden] quoting reference 1004468. We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sectors of society.
About [Employer hidden]
QIB provides a vibrant and exciting setting composed of multiple research teams working on metagenomics, microbial genomics, molecular epidemiology, and microbial communities. We offer the chance to work with world leading, cutting edge technologies both in sequencing and computational biology and give you the opportunity to broaden your skills using open-source technologies.
The closing date for applications will be 15 June 2023
The [Employer hidden] is a registered charity (No. 1058499) and is an Equal Opportunities Employer.