Postdoctoral Research Associate

Exeter; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fertility treatment policy

Maternity & adoption leave (26 weeks)

Shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks)

Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks)

Job summary

The University of Exeter seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to support AI4DigiMiC in soil microbiome restoration. You will lead experimental microbiology, reviving and culturing microbial communities and running high-throughput growth and respiration measurements.

You will collaborate on data integration with genomic data and predictive models, contribute to publications and present findings at project meetings and seminars.

Qualifications

• PhD (or nearing completion) in microbial ecology, microbiology or related field.
• Experience designing and conducting complex microbial experiments.
• Experience with microplate-based assays and growth/respiration measurements.
• Strong data-analysis skills with R or Python.
• Ability to work collaboratively and meet project deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Deliver the project’s experimental microbiology programme and work with soil microbiomes and microbial isolates.
• Revive and culture microbial communities and isolates.
• Develop and conduct high-throughput measurements of growth, respiration and carbon-use efficiency.
• Analyse data and contribute to datasets, publications, meetings and presentations.

Skills

Microbial ecology

Microbiology

Data analysis (R/Python)

Experimental design

Microplate assays

Growth measurements

Respiration measurements

Education

PhD or nearing completion

Tools

R

Python

Job description

About The Role

Postdoctoral Research Associate

INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY

This Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)-funded, full-time post is available from 01/10/2026on a fixed-term basis for 12 months.

The starting salary will be from£35,302 on grade E, depending on knowledge, skills and experience.

The Role

Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy

The Faculty wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to support the work of Professor Gabriel Yvon-Durocher on AI4DigiMiC, a collaborative project developing hybrid artificial intelligence models to guide microbiome-driven soil restoration.

Soil microbial communities play a central role in carbon storage and ecosystem recovery. This project will combine experimental measurements of microbial carbon-use efficiency—the proportion of carbon taken up that is retained in biomass with genomic and environmental data to predict microbiome function and inform future restoration interventions.

The successful applicant will deliver the project’s experimental microbiology programme, working with soil microbiomes and microbial isolates from the UK Crop Microbiome CryoBank. The post will include reviving and culturing microbial communities and isolates; developing and conducting high-throughput measurements of microbial growth, respiration and carbon-use efficiency; and analysing and interpreting the resulting data.

The postholder will contribute specialist expertise to experimental design and method development, maintain reproducible experimental records, and undertake quality control. They will collaborate with project partners to produce datasets suitable for integration with genomic information and predictive models, and contribute to research publications, project meetings and presentations.

About You

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD (or nearing completion) or equivalent qualification or experience in microbial ecology, microbiology or a related field. The successful applicant will possess sufficient specialist knowledge to develop research methodologies and contribute to the project’s research programme.

Applicants will have experience of designing and conducting complex microbial experiments, including microbial cultivation, alongside strong quantitative and data-analysis skills. They will be able to organise experimental workflows, resolve methodological problems and maintain accurate, reproducible records. Experience of microplate-based assays, microbial growth or respiration measurements, and reproducible analysis using R or Python would be advantageous.

The successful applicant will be able to work collaboratively, communicate complex information orally, in writing and electronically, and present research progress and outcomes. They will contribute to proposals and applications to external bodies, manage their work to meet project deadlines, and support the work of colleagues and students as appropriate.

Further information

For further information, please contact Professor Gabriel Yvon-Durocher at [e-mail].

About Us

Transform Your Career and Help Shape a Greener, Healthier, and Fairer Future

Join the University of Exeter, a top 200 Russell Group university (QS & THE World University Rankings 2025), excelling in teaching (triple Gold rating, TEF 2023) and leading groundbreaking research in the beautiful southwest of England.

We are committed to understanding different cultures and perspectives, supporting diverse leadership, and striving for social justice. We encourage applications from all groups underrepresented in our community, including racially minoritised individuals and those with disabilities. Our inclusive, merit based recruitment processes seek to embrace a diverse set of experiences to ensure colleagues feel supported equitably. With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 140 countries, we foster a culture where everyone can thrive.

You can read more about our current accreditations and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here, including our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

What we can offer you

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines;
• Support teams that understand the University wide teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly;
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development;
• Our Exeter Academic initiative supports high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career;
• A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy;
• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon/Cornwall.

How we can help

If you are considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch with us at [e-mail]. You can request reasonable adjustments within your application or by contacting us. You can also choose to be considered under our Disability Confident Scheme and find out here how this is managed during our recruitment and onboarding process.