The role

In the FlavourFerm consortium, partners are developing novel fermented plant-based foods. This advertised research position will investigate how these foods influence the human gut microbiome and offer potential benefits to host health. Further, taste and texture of these foods will be predicted from microbial fermentation consortia. Specifically, microbes will be identified that affect fermentation outcomes. Building on previous work from the host group (doi:10.1016/j.chom.2023.05.024; doi:10.1093/nar/gkaf1388), we will develop machine learning tools to model microbial communities and their impact.

In the longer term, this research will support the development of human-centric fermented foods that are safe, appealing, and environmentally sustainable.

The environment

The successful applicant will work within the Hildebrand and Traka groups, integrated in the H2020 international FlavourFerm consortium. Prof Hildebrand studies the diversity, interactions, and evolution of microbial communities using high-resolution metagenomics and custom software tools. The group is jointly based at the [Employer hidden] Bioscience and the Earlham Institute developing widely used bioinformatic tools.

Dr Maria Traka leads the UK national resource Food & Nutrition National Bioscience Research Infrastructure, focused on automated food categorization using AI.

FlavourFerm combines microbiologists, machine learning and food scientists, to develop the next generation of healthy and sustainable nutrition. The project requires close collaborations across Europe attendance and participation in workshops and consortium meetings is required.

The ideal candidate

The ideal applicant holds a PhD (or equivalent) in biology, bioinformatics, computer science or a related discipline, being experienced in bioinformatics, (meta)genomic data, and microbiology. Specifically, knowledge in AI, machine learning, microbial pathogens, microbiology of fermentation, comparative genomics and analysing microbial communities will be of benefit. Specialised skills will be taught and developed through mentorship and collaborations.

Additional information

Salary on appointment will be within the range £37,500 to £43,350 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time post until 30 April 2028.

For further information and details of how to apply can be found on the HR website or contact the Human Resources team on [contact hidden] or [contact hidden] quoting reference 1006100.

This role meets the criteria for a visa application, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply. Please contact the Human Resources Team if you have any questions regarding your application or visa options.

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 [Employer hidden]

The [Employer hidden] is located on the Norwich Research Park, one of Europe’s largest single-site concentrations of research in food, genomics, and health. The Park hosts four BBSRC institutes (including Quadram), around 17,000 students, 3,000 researchers and clinicians, and more than 115 companies. Its researchers are internationally recognized, with 10 scientists ranked among the top 1% of the world’s most highly cited, including Prof Hildebrand (2024 & 2025).

Norwich is regularly ranked among the top UK cities to live in, known for its historic city centre and vibrant food and coffee culture. In 2026 Norwich was named the “best UK city to live in”.

The closing date for applications will be 17 May 2026. Interviews are planned for week commencing 1st June 2026.

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