Biochem/Microbio Research Associate: Streptomyces Biosynthesis

Imperial Enterprise; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

43 days’ annual leave and generous p身份

Flexible working policy from day one

On-site leisure facilities

Cycle-to-work scheme

Interest-free season ticket loans

Diverse and inclusive culture

Job summary

Imperial College London’s Moore group, Life Sciences, seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to advance antifungal natural product biosynthesis in Streptomyces. You will design engineered pathways, edit genomes, and scale production via bioreactors with analytical support.

The role spans basic and applied biosynthesis, collaboration across fermentation and chemistry teams, and supervision of students. Strong training in genetic engineering and biochemistry is essential.

Qualifications

• PhD in biochemistry, chemical biology or a closely related discipline, or equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience.
• Strong research track record, ideally first-author publications.
• Experience in molecular biology and bacterial genetic engineering, incl. DNA assembly, cloning and strain construction.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to work independently.
• Experience in genetic engineering of Streptomyces or other actinobacteria, incl. CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing and heterologous expression of biosynthetic gene clusters.
• Experience in microbial fermentation or bioprocess development, incl. bioreactor cultivation.
• Experience in recombinant protein expression, purification and enzyme assay design.
• Experience mentoring junior researchers, or working with industry partners or on patent applications.
• Experience in analytical techniques such as HPLC or LC-MS.

Responsibilities

• DNA and strain engineering: design/clone plasmid libraries, conjugation into Streptomyces, genome editing with CRISPR-Cas9 or directed evolution to build production strains.
• Bioreactor cultivation: scale production from shake flasks to high-cell-density bioreactors and develop fed-batch protocols with access to mass spectrometry for analysis.
• Biochemistry: express/purify biosynthetic enzymes and develop assays; purify and analyze natural products by HPLC, LC-MS and NMR.

Skills

DNA/strain engineering

Molecular biology

CRISPR-Cas9

Bioreactor cultivation

Protein biochemistry

Analytical techniques

Communication skills

Mentoring junior researchers

Education

PhD in biochemistry or closely related discipline

Tools

CRISPR-Cas9

HPLC

LC-MS

NMR

Proteomics facilities

Job description

Imperial College London’s Moore group, Life Sciences, seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to advance antifungal natural product biosynthesis in Streptomyces. You will design engineered pathways, edit genomes, and scale production via bioreactors with analytical support.

The role spans basic and applied biosynthesis, collaboration across fermentation and chemistry teams, and supervision of students. Strong training in genetic engineering and biochemistry is essential.