Research Fellow in Molecular Microbiology

We are seeking a motivated postdoctoral scientist to join our interdisciplinary team tackling the threat of AMR in the human pathogen Clostridioides difficile. You will join the Clostridial Cell Biology Group in the School of Life Sciences at Warwick University and work closely with the biochemists, evolutionary biologists, bioinformaticians, statisticians and clinical microbiologists on the wider team in the Universities of Sheffield, Manchester and Leeds. We will analyse the propensity for C. difficile to evolve resistance to the frontline therapeutic vancomycin, the consequences, genetic basis and mechanisms of resistance and develop the evidence base needed to inform effective treatment in the future.

Responsibilities:
- Be responsible for the molecular biology and experimental evolution aspects of the programme.
- Lead on the writing of research publications and interim reports and prepare material and present at national and international conferences and research seminars.
- Assist in the supervision of PhD, masters and undergraduate students.

About You:
We are looking for someone with broad expertise in bacterial molecular biology. The ideal applicant should have proficiency in:
- Safe handling of HG2 microorganisms, sufficient to maintain the integrity of a long-term evolution experiment. Experience of anaerobic microbiology is a plus but not essential.
- Purification and analysis of macromolecules including DNA, RNA and protein.
- Cloning and mutagenesis of microorganisms using standard techniques.
- Microscopic imaging of live and fixed bacteria using a range of imaging modalities.

PhD Status:
If you are near submission of your PhD, or have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made at Research Assistant level, at the highest spinal point of pay grade 5 (£35,302 per annum). Upon receipt of evidence confirming the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow, at the lowest spinal point of grade 6 (£36,320 per annum).

About the Department:
Our £4M MRC programme across the Universities of Warwick, Sheffield, Manchester and Leeds brings together Molecular Microbiologists, Biochemists, Evolutionary Biologists, Statisticians, Bioinformaticians and Clinical Microbiologists to generate the crucial data needed to guide C. difficile treatment in the future. This post will be in the research group of Robert Fagan at the School of Life Sciences at University of Warwick and is available for up to 4 years. Please note that the appointment is subject to the funding being awarded.

This is an on-campus based role due to the nature of the work; no work from home basis can be accommodated.

We and the wider University of Warwick environment offer substantial opportunities for professional development including regular opportunities to attend international conferences.

Benefits include an attractive pension scheme, a generous holiday allowance plus Christmas closure, excellent learning and development opportunities, savings on a wide range of products and services, a generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy, onsite childcare facilities, and access to flexible working. The University is a Living Wage employer.

The University holds a Race Equality Charter Bronze Award, Athena Swan Silver Award and a Disability Smart Bronze Award. We welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation. We would particularly encourage and welcome applications from female academics.