Post-doctoral Researcher in Salmon Immunology and Vaccination

University of Edinburgh; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research institution in Edinburgh is seeking a post-doctoral researcher to join their project on enhancing the robustness of Scottish Atlantic salmon. The successful candidate will focus on the effects of temperature on immune system development and vaccination efficacy. Candidates should have a PhD or be near completion in a relevant field, along with strong experience in fish immunology. The role offers flexible working arrangements and a competitive salary.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Comprehensive Staff Benefits

Flexible working patterns

Qualifications

• PhD, or near to completing a PhD, in fish immunology and/or vaccination.
• Demonstrated experience and broad knowledge in fish/animal immunology and/or vaccination.
• Proven skills in state-of-the-art molecular and/or cellular techniques relevant to measure immune responses.

Responsibilities

• Lead role in investigating the effect of rearing temperature on immune system development.
• Evaluate current vaccination strategies for salmon.
• Conduct hands-on laboratory work and vaccination trials.

Skills

Fish immunology and/or vaccination

Experience in functional genomics

State-of-the-art molecular techniques

Excellent organisation and time management skills

Excellent communication skills

Education

PhD in fish immunology or related field

Tools

Cellular techniques

Job description

Job Description

Grade UE07: £41,064 to £48,822 per annum

CMVM / Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

Full-time: 35 hours per week

Fixed-term: 3 years

A post-doctoral researcher position is available within a BBSRC project called "Drivers of salmon robustness". This long-term Partnership with Mowi Scotland aims to make breakthrough scientific advances that will be applied in practice to enhance fish robustness and reduce mortality levels in Scottish Atlantic salmon farming. The position will take a lead role in investigating the effect of rearing temperature on immune system development and function, as well as efficacy of current vaccination strategies to protect salmon against its most pressing diseases.

This post will be based primarily on campus at the Roslin Institute; considering the heavy hands-on laboratory work as well as vaccination and challenge trials foreseen in the project, we are open to considering flexible working patterns (on a contractual basis) but expect that the majority of the work will include regular on-campus working.

For informal enquiries, please get in touch with Professor Maria Forlenza ([e-mail])

Your skills and attributes for success:

• PhD, or near to completing a PhD, in fish immunology and/or vaccination
• Demonstrated experience and broad knowledge in fish/animal immunology and/or vaccination
• Experience in functional genomics, especially in single cell omics analysis
• Proven skills in state-of-the art molecular and/or cellular techniques relevant to measure immune responses and correlates of protection to vaccination (in salmon)
• Track record of peer-reviewed publications in relevant area
• Track record of disseminating findings in relevant research area, including by presenting at major conferences
• Excellent organisation and time management skills
• Excellent communication skills

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Application Information

Please ensure you include the following documents in your application:

• CV:
  include full details of your educational background, career to date, publication record, and main achievements - When describing your achievements and experience, please, be specific about what you did, why you did it and what was your contribution. Listing many techniques will not help if the context in which those techniques were applied has not been provided.
• Cover Letter:
  Outlining your motivation and relevant experience for this specific position - do not be afraid to mention any gap in your knowledge or practical experience you may think you have. Making an honest account of your strength and weaknesses will be appreciated more than stating that you are good at or know everything.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

• A competitive salary
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, such as a generous holiday entitlement, competitive pension schemes, staff discounts, and family-friendly initiatives. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page(opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the total value of your pay and benefits

Championing equality, diversity and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. The Roslin Institute, where the post will be based, holds a Gold Athena SWAN award. The University of Edinburgh is a member of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages(opens new browser tab)

The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is 29th August 2025.

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm GMT. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.

About Us

As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow's greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.

About the Team

The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies is a one-of-a-kind centre of excellence in clinical activity, teaching and research. Our purpose-built campus, set against the backdrop of the beautiful Pentland Hills Regional Park, is home to more than eight hundred staff and almost eighteen hundred students, all of whom contribute to our exceptional community ethos.

The School comprises:

• The Roslin Institute

• The Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems

• The Roslin Innovation Centre

• The Hospital for Small Animals

• Equine Veterinary Services

• Farm Animal Services

• Easter Bush Pathology

• The Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education

We represent the largest concentration of animal science-related expertise in Europe, impacting local, regional, national and international communities in terms of economic growth, the provision of clinical services and the advancement of scientific knowledge.

Education

The School is accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and participates in the Veterinary Medical Colleges Admissions Service (VMCAS). We are consistently ranked the best vet school in the UK by both the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide and the Guardian League Tables. We are consistently ranked among the best in the world by global rankings.

The School is a global education provider with over 1,800 undergraduate, postgraduate and research students from around the world. We provide world-class education to improve the health of animals and human beings alike and are leaders in veterinary education, research, and clinical practice, at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. The Roslin Institute collaborates closely in delivering research-led teaching to undergraduate veterinary students, and promoting clinical veterinary research and translation. The unique association with leading medical and veterinary schools (through the University's College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine) with a genuine commitment to the concept of One Medicine, also enables the translation of expertise and knowledge into human health and vice-versa.

Research Impact

In a joint submission to the latest UK Research Excellence Framework exercise, research at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (R(D)SVS) and Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) has been ranked number one in the UK for agriculture, food and veterinary sciences by combining Times Higher Education's ratings for each institution. The judgement, based on the quality and breadth of research, maintains the R(D)SVS and SRUC's position as the strongest provider in these subject areas. The institutions' research environment was classified to be 100 per cent world leading or internationally excellent for agriculture, food and veterinary sciences research. The Vet School and SRUC submission was also assessed as being 100 per cent world leading or internationally excellent in terms of the impact its research work has on wider society.

Community
The School holds a Silver Athena SWAN award and the Roslin Institute holds a Gold Award in recognition of their commitment to advance the representation of women in veterinary medicine and animal science. It is home to a thriving and diverse community of staff and students, with access to facilities including campus allotments and apiary, cycle storage and showers, walking and running trails, two restaurants and a modern gym.