Research Scientist (Bacterial Microcompartments)

Background

Many bacteria have the ability to produce specialised organelles called bacterial microcompartments (BMCs), which house specific metabolic pathways to enhance the degradation of specific substrates. However, these microcompartments can be redesigned for other purposes, including as sites for metal accumulation.

The Role

The overall aim of this project is to investigate the potential of BMCs to accumulate exogenous metal. The aim of this project is to use genetic engineering to deliver a platform technology for metal removal and bio recovery by enhancing metal uptake and accumulation within BMCs. Focusing on robust and scalable bacterial systems (E. coli and Shewanella), with well-known capabilities to recover high oxidation waste metals as valuable nanoparticles, we will expand the portfolio of metals that can be targeted to include emerging e-tech metals that are currently difficult and costly to recycle. Two exemplars have been selected; Au (gold; toxic and redox active) and REEs (non-redox active and difficult to treat). A range of novel approaches will be combined to develop a flexible platform technology that can be used to compartmentalise the chosen metal in discrete locations within the microbial cell, facilitating selective removal from complex matrices and where required the formation of functional biominerals of commercial potential.

The Ideal Candidate

We are seeking two Research Scientists with experience in microbiology and/or biochemistry, imaging and synthetic biology. You should have a PhD or equivalent in Biochemistry, Microbiology or a related discipline. The successful candidate will have a proven record in scientific writing and demonstrated ability to perform research and develop novel ideas.

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 9 months.

For further information and details of how to apply, please visit our website https://jobs.quadram.ac.uk or contact the Human Resources team on [contact hidden] or [contact hidden] quoting reference 1004485.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sectors of society. The Institute supports equality of opportunity within the workplace and expects all employees to share and display these values. To support our commitment, we have a range of family, faith and diversity friendly working arrangements to help all staff achieve excellence in their area of work.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy.

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 — view at passion-project.co.uk], 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.

The closing date for applications will be 10 July 2023

The [Employer hidden] is a registered charity (No. 1058499) and is an Equal Opportunities Employer.