Research Assistant in Evolutionary Microbiology

TN United Kingdom; Oxford; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research institution is seeking a Research Assistant in Evolutionary Microbiology to assist in groundbreaking experiments targeting antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The role involves conducting large-scale assays and requires strong organizational skills and relevant research experience. This full-time position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Experience working with phage infectivity and resistance assays.
• Excellent organization and planning skills required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct experiments to assess PDBs' ability to infect E.coli.
• Work closely with a post-doc and lab group.

Skills

Organization

Planning

Phage infectivity

Resistance assays

Education

Relevant research experience

Tools

qPCR

Flow cytometry

Job description

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Research Assistant in Evolutionary Microbiology, Oxford

Client:

University of Oxford

Location:

Oxford, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

EU work permit required:

Yes

Job Reference:

70b3032e93f1

Job Views:

4

Posted:

12.05.2025

Expiry Date:

26.06.2025

Job Description:

We are seeking

a Research Assistant for a project testing the ability of phage to target bacteria carrying plasmids associated with antibiotic resistance genes. Many of the most important antibiotic resistance genes are carried by conjugative plasmids that transfer resistance across strain and species boundaries. Pilus-dependent bacteriophage (PDBs) are viruses that infect bacterial cells via the conjugative pilus, making them a potentially powerful tool to combat antibiotic resistance in bacterial communities. The postholder will work on experiments to (1) assess the ability of PDBs to infect a lab strain of E.coli carrying a panel of reference plasmids, (2) test the ability of PDBs to infect isolates of E.coli collected from infections and environmental sources. The postholder will work on these experiments in conjunction with a post-doc, and will be fully embedded into the lab group. This position is suitable for researchers with previous experience working with phage infectivity and resistance assays. The scale of these assays will be large, and this post will require excellent organization and planning skills. Previous experience with qPCR, flow cytometry, and experimental evolution would also be desirable. The position is available for 1 year at full-time, but it may be possible to work on this position part-time. Applications should include a CV and a cover letter detailing how the applicant fits the selection criteria. Where Covid-19 has resulted in substantial disruption to your work or research outputs, please explain this by providing an additional paragraph in your supporting statement. The University of Oxford is committed to equality and valuing diversity. All applicants will be judged on merit, according to the selection criteria. This post is full-time and available from 1 September 2025 onwards with a start date no later than 1 February 2026.